Fall in zone 8aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 23321 (Chesapeake, VA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)233 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8a10 to 15°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
62°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 55°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cape Charles 5 ENE (43 mi).
4-inch depth
64°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 59°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cape Charles 5 ENE (43 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 23321 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 64°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about May 12 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 20–Oct 18
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 4–Nov 1
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 15: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 10 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 27 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 15 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 6 | Nov 3 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 27 | Nov 15 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 15 | Dec 1 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 23321
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 27) and first fall frost (Nov 15). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 16–30 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 16–30 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 6–27 (transplant) Feb 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 11 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 13–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 27 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 9–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–Apr 3 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 20–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 2–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 9 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 27–Mar 6 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 2–16 | Apr 3–10 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 13–27 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Suffolk Lake Kilby, VA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00448192), elevation 22 ft, 11.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk S, VA | 12 mi | Mar 23 | Nov 16 |
| Norfolk NAS, VA | 13 mi | Mar 16 | Nov 26 |
| Wallaceton-lake Drummond, VA | 14 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 35 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 23321
When is the last frost in 23321?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 23321 is March 27. For a more cautious planting date, use April 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 23321?
The average first fall freeze is November 15. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 2.
What hardiness zone is 23321?
ZIP 23321 is in USDA zone 8a (10 to 15°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 23321 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
23701 Portsmouth 23435 Suffolk 23702 Portsmouth 23707 Portsmouth 23704 Portsmouth 23709 Portsmouth 23703 Portsmouth 23708 Portsmouth
Other ZIP codes in Chesapeake city
23320 23322 23323 23324 23325 All Chesapeake city frost dates · Virginia frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.