Richmond, VA — USDA Zone 7b

Frost dates and growing season in Richmond

All of Richmond's mapped ZIP codes fall in the same hardiness band, Zone 7b.

These are 50%-probability averages modeled from Richmond's USDA hardiness zone and regional climate normals — not a single-station reading. In a typical year the last spring frost will have passed by April 13, but a colder-than-average year can run 1-2 weeks later. Plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) once both soil and night temperatures are consistently warm — a thermometer beats the calendar.

Growing season in Richmond

Richmond, Virginia sits in USDA Zone 7b, with roughly 197 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around April 13 and a first fall frost around October 27. That is a long season — succession-sow through summer and run a full fall crop; heat-sensitive greens still need spring/autumn timing. Richmond lies near 37.5°N; higher-latitude gardens get longer midsummer days but a tighter shoulder season at this zone.

What grows in Richmond

Richmond falls in USDA Zone 7b, so the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 7 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 7b (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.

• Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
• Okra
• Sweet potatoes
• Squash, melons
• Beans (lima + pole)
• Figs
• Pomegranates (in protected spots)
• Apples, peaches, plums, pears
• Blueberries (rabbiteye + highbush)
• Asparagus, rhubarb

What to plant in Richmond this week

Richmond is in high summer — most spring plantings are in. Keep an eye on watering and start planning your fall crop. Cool-season seedlings (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce) can be started indoors for a fall transplant.

• When to plant tomatoes in zone 7
• When to plant peppers in zone 7
• When to plant bush beans in zone 7
• When to plant cucumbers in zone 7
• When to plant basil in zone 7

Full planting calendar for Richmond

Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 7 averages:

• When to plant tomatoes in zone 7
• When to plant peppers in zone 7
• When to plant basil in zone 7
• When to plant garlic in zone 7
• When to plant lettuce in zone 7
• When to plant bush beans in zone 7
• When to plant cucumbers in zone 7
• When to plant summer squash in zone 7
• When to plant peas in zone 7
• When to plant carrots in zone 7

ZIP codes in Richmond

Drill down to the precise frost window and planting calendar for a specific ZIP in Richmond:

• 23219 — Richmond (Zone 7b)
• 23220 — Richmond (Fan District) (Zone 7b)
• 23223 — Richmond (Church Hill) (Zone 7b)

Local microclimate notes

Zone tables give you the average — but Richmondgardens vary. South-facing walls and paved areas can run a full half-zone warmer than the published rating. Low-lying spots, frost pockets, and shaded north sides can run colder. If you've gardened here a few seasons, your own frost record — the last time you actually got frost damage — beats any national average.

Source and methodology

Hardiness zone from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Frost-date and growing-season figures are modeled from Richmond's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations draw on US Cooperative Extension references, curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed June 2026.

Other cities in Virginia

• Alexandria, VA — USDA Zone 7b
• Arlington, VA — USDA Zone 7b
• Charlottesville, VA — USDA Zone 7a
• Chesapeake, VA — USDA Zone 8a
• Fairfax, VA — USDA Zone 7a
• Fredericksburg, VA — USDA Zone 7b
• Hampton, VA — USDA Zone 8a
• Lynchburg, VA — USDA Zone 7a
• Manassas, VA — USDA Zone 7a
• Newport News, VA — USDA Zone 8a
• Norfolk, VA — USDA Zone 8a
• Portsmouth, VA — USDA Zone 8a
• All of Virginia by zone

Related guides

• USDA Zone 7 — full plant + frost guide
• Browse USDA hardiness zones by city
• Look up a ZIP code
• How to start a vegetable garden — beginner guide