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USDA Hardiness Zone 7b

Frost Dates for 23837 — Courtland, Virginia

NOAA 1991–2020 normals from Wakefield 1NW, VA (113 ft), 17 miles north.

Updated

In Courtland, the last spring frost (32°F) is around April 12 in half of years and has passed by April 29 in nine years out of ten. The first fall frost comes around October 30, as early as October 16 one year in ten, leaving a typical freeze-free season of 200 days (NOAA, Wakefield 1NW, VA).

Last spring frost
April 12

50% probability

First fall frost
October 30

50% probability

Growing season
200 days

freeze-free, 50%

Hardiness zone
7b

5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) coldest night

First snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Last snow
Rare

median, 1991–2020

Winters with snow
45%

9 of 20 observed

Snow per year
4.1"

NOAA normal

Frost risk by date in Courtland

Half of springs at Wakefield 1NW, VA see their last 32°F night by April 12; only one in ten is past it by March 28, and one in ten still has one after April 29. Planting tender crops after April 19 leaves a 30% risk of a frost on them, after April 22 20%, and after April 29 10%. The 17 days between the even-odds date and the one-in-ten date is narrower than at 48% of the 128 Virginia stations behind this site's ZIP pages.

In fall the first 32°F night comes by October 30 in half of years, as early as October 16 one year in ten, and holds off past November 12 one year in ten. A hard freeze of 28°F follows 10 days later, around November 9; in spring the one-in-ten date for 28°F is April 14, 15 days before the 32°F one. The freeze-free season lasts 200 days in a typical year, longer than at 55% of the 128 Virginia stations; it reaches 221 days one year in ten and falls short of 180 one year in ten. On average 88 nights a year drop to 32°F or below. Nights of 36°F, when frost can still settle on leaves in low, open spots, continue 14 days longer, to about April 26, and return around October 21. Severe cold of 16°F or below comes in 98% of winters, usually between December 31 and February 16.

Spring: the chance of another night this cold after the date
Low90%80%70%60%50%40%30%20%10%
36°FApr 10Apr 16Apr 19Apr 22Apr 26Apr 29May 2May 6May 13
32°FMar 28Apr 1Apr 5Apr 9Apr 12Apr 16Apr 19Apr 22Apr 29
28°FMar 15Mar 20Mar 24Mar 27Mar 31Apr 2Apr 5Apr 8Apr 14
24°FFeb 26Mar 7Mar 11Mar 15Mar 19Mar 23Mar 27Mar 31Apr 4
20°FFeb 5Feb 14Feb 23Feb 28Mar 3Mar 8Mar 12Mar 17Mar 24
16°F98% of yrsJan 21Jan 30Feb 4Feb 9Feb 16Feb 21Feb 27Mar 5Mar 13
Fall: the chance the first night this cold has come by the date
Low10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%
36°FOct 7Oct 12Oct 16Oct 18Oct 21Oct 24Oct 26Oct 30Nov 2
32°FOct 16Oct 21Oct 25Oct 27Oct 30Nov 1Nov 4Nov 7Nov 12
28°FOct 27Nov 1Nov 3Nov 6Nov 9Nov 12Nov 15Nov 20Nov 28
24°FNov 8Nov 12Nov 15Nov 19Nov 24Nov 28Dec 1Dec 5Dec 13
20°FNov 19Nov 27Dec 1Dec 5Dec 10Dec 15Dec 22Dec 29Jan 4
16°F98% of yrsDec 4Dec 12Dec 19Dec 26Dec 31Jan 3Jan 9Jan 15Jan 26

Freeze probabilities 1991–2020 at Wakefield 1NW, VA, from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals. Where a temperature is reached in fewer than 99.5% of years, the dates describe only the years that reach it. Not a forecast.

Frost risk on any date in 23837 →Compare Courtland with another place →

Weather by month in Courtland

July is the warmest month at Wakefield 1NW, VA, averaging 90°F by day and 68°F at night; January is the coldest at 50°F and 28°F. A freezing night is all but certain in every month from November to March (a 90% chance or more). From May to September the chance of a 32°F night stays under 10% each month. In spring, April still brings one in 79% of years.

Warmth for growing adds up to 4,523 growing degree days a year (base 50°F), more than at 85% of the 128 Virginia stations. 37% of them (1,689) have built up by the end of June, and July adds the most, 894. Precipitation totals 51.6 inches a year, most in September (6.1") and least in February (2.8"); May to September bring 51% of it.

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Wakefield 1NW, VA
MonthHigh °FLow °FPrecip. in32°F nightNights ≤ 32°FGDD 50°F
Jan50283.8100%2226
Feb53302.8100%1832
Mar61364.299%13104
Apr71453.879%3274
May79554.29%0517
Jun86634.80%0736
Jul90685.50%0894
Aug88665.50%0837
Sep82606.10%0630
Oct72484.056%2322
Nov62383.2100%12108
Dec53313.7100%1942

Monthly normals 1991–2020 at Wakefield 1NW, VA (113 ft), NOAA NCEI. "32°F night": chance of at least one in the month. GDD: growing degree days, base 50°F.

Compared with the next station

The nearest other station, Norfolk Rich, VA, 17 miles north of Courtland, has a last frost 6 days earlier (April 6), a first frost 2 days later (November 1), a season 10 days longer.

Frost dates for 23888 (Wakefield) →

When it snows in Courtland, Virginia

Measurable snow is rare here: only 9 of 20 winters from 1991 to 2020 recorded 0.1 inch or more at Holland 1 E, VA, 17.2 miles away, so there is no typical first-snow date to plan around.

Planting calendar for 23837

What to do and when, from the 50% frost dates for Courtland, Virginia
WhenWhat to do
February 1 – February 15Start peppers and aubergines indoorsThey need eight to ten weeks under lights before they can go out.
February 15 – March 1Start tomatoes indoorsSix to eight weeks gives a transplant big enough to set fruit early.
March 15 – March 29Sow peas, spinach, lettuce, radish outdoorsThese tolerate light frost and prefer to germinate in cool soil.
April 12 onwardTransplant tomatoes, peppers, basil, squash, cucumbersThe average last freeze has passed — still watch the actual forecast.
by August 7Sow the autumn crop of carrots, beets and brassicasThey need about twelve weeks to size up before growth stops.
by October 16Harvest tender crops, or be ready to cover themA first freeze two weeks early is well within normal variation.
October 30 onwardPlant garlic, mulch beds, lift tender bulbsGarlic wants a cold spell; bare soil loses structure over winter.

The weeks before and after the 50% dates are general rules of thumb, not NOAA figures; a seed packet gives the timing for each variety.

Where these figures come from

ZIP 23837 is 17 miles from Wakefield 1NW, VA, which stands at 113 feet, the nearest NOAA station that publishes freeze probabilities for 1991–2020. 1 other ZIP code shares the station; its figures are presented in full for 23890 (Waverly). The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map lists ZIP 23837 in zone 7b, the band where the coldest night of the year averaged 5 to 10°F (-15.0 to -12.2°C) over 1991–2020; a zone describes winter lows, not frost dates.

Frost dates across Virginia →

Hardiness zone and temperature range: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 (USDA-ARS, Oregon State University), ZIP-code listing, unchanged. °C converted from °F by this site.

Thirty-year averages, not a forecast: check the forecast before planting out. How stations are matched and which pages are offered to search engines: methodology.

ZIP codes measured at the same station

Other zone 7b places in Virginia