[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"detail-sidebar-cat-0-en-105":3,"doc-seo-347348-105":59,"doc-detail-347348-en":130},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"success",[7,13,18,23,28,33,38,43,48,51,55],{"id":8,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":10,"show_sort_weight":11,"slug":12},1,"Document","Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":14,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":15,"show_sort_weight":16,"slug":17},2,"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":19,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":20,"show_sort_weight":21,"slug":22},4,"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":24,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":25,"show_sort_weight":26,"slug":27},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":29,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":30,"show_sort_weight":31,"slug":32},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":34,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":35,"show_sort_weight":36,"slug":37},7,"Healthcare",40,"healthcare",{"id":39,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":40,"show_sort_weight":41,"slug":42},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":44,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":45,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":47},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":46,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":49,"show_sort_weight":46,"slug":50},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":52,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":53,"show_sort_weight":52,"slug":54},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":56,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":9,"category_name":57,"show_sort_weight":24,"slug":58},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":60,"data":61},"ok",{"site_id":62,"language":63,"slug":64,"title":65,"keywords":66,"description":67,"schema_data":68,"social_meta":123,"head_meta":125,"extra_data":127,"updated_unix":129},105,"en","virginias-home-garden-vegetable-planting-guide-recommended-planting-dates-and-amounts-to-plant","Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide - Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant","","A Virginia home vegetable gardening guide focused on selecting planting dates and estimating how much to plant. It explains how local frost-free conditions and USDA plant hardiness zones shape spring and fall schedules, including differences created by mountainous terrain and microclimates. The publication provides average last-spring and first-fall freeze date ranges, crop-specific planting windows by zone, and practical notes such as using row cover fabric or cold frames to extend growing time.",{"@graph":69,"@context":122},[70,84,105],{"@type":71,"itemListElement":72},"BreadcrumbList",[73,77,79,82],{"item":74,"name":75,"@type":76,"position":8},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",{"item":78,"name":9,"@type":76,"position":14},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/",{"item":80,"name":53,"@type":76,"position":81},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/lifestyle/",3,{"item":83,"name":65,"@type":76,"position":19},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/virginias-home-garden-vegetable-planting-guide-recommended-planting-dates-and-amounts-to-plant/347348/",{"url":83,"name":65,"@type":85,"image":86,"author":91,"headline":65,"publisher":94,"fileFormat":97,"inLanguage":63,"description":67,"dateModified":98,"datePublished":99,"encodingFormat":97,"isAccessibleForFree":100,"interactionStatistic":101},"DigitalDocument",{"url":87,"@type":88,"width":89,"height":90},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/virginias-home-garden-vegetable-planting-guide-recommended-planting-dates-and-amounts-to-plant/347348.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":92,"@type":93},"Chumphorn","Person",{"url":74,"name":95,"@type":96},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-25","2026-09-22",true,{"@type":102,"interactionType":103,"userInteractionCount":52},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":104},"ViewAction",{"@type":106,"mainEntity":107},"FAQPage",[108,114,118],{"name":109,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":111},"How do USDA hardiness zones help determine planting dates in Virginia?","Question",{"text":112,"@type":113},"The guide uses USDA plant hardiness zones to set recommended spring and fall planting periods. It recommends matching your location to the appropriate zone and then using the crop tables for that zone.","Answer",{"name":115,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":116},"What climate information is used to build the frost-free timeline?",{"text":117,"@type":113},"It lists average last spring frost and first fall frost date ranges (about a 50% chance) for hardiness zones. It also advises checking county-specific or local conditions when possible.",{"name":119,"@type":110,"acceptedAnswer":120},"How can row cover fabric or cold frames change the schedule?",{"text":121,"@type":113},"The guide notes that using row cover fabric and cold frames may extend the expected planting and harvest window by two to four weeks in both spring and fall.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":83,"og:type":124,"og:title":65,"og:site_name":95,"og:description":67},"article",{"robots":126,"canonical":83},"index,follow",{"doc_id":128,"site_id":62},347348,1790142140,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":131},{"doc_id":128,"user_id":132,"nickname":92,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":52,"category_name":53,"doc_title":65,"doc_description":67,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":52,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":8,"is_downloadable":8,"audit_status":8,"page_count":34,"language":139,"language_code":63,"site_id":62,"html_lang":63,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":67,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144},2336475401981,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/22000c94efd8d5204d?x-image-process=image/resize,m_fixed,w_180,h_180&k=1786935347598174694","Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide: Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant  \nAuthored by Shawn Jadrnicek, Extension Agent, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Roanoke County/Roanoke and Salem Office; and Alex Hessler, Instructor, Organic and Sustainable Vegetable Production, and Director, Homefield Farm, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech  \nIntroduction  \nSelecting appropriate planting dates is a critical component of successful vegetable gardening. Vegetables vary widely in their preferred growing conditions and tolerance to temperature extremes, both cold and hot. Understanding the local frost-free period aids in selecting appropriate planting dates. This publication uses U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones for guidance in selecting planting dates for spring-and fall-planted vegetables for the home garden in Virginia.  \nIn addition, this guide suggests approximate amounts of each crop to plant based on family size and preferences, along with guidelines on plant spacing and the amount of seed or number of plants needed per 10 feet of row.  \nWhen to Plant  \nSee the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map: Virginia (fig. 1) to identify your area’s hardiness zone. A searchable map with hardiness zones for specific locations is available at [https://planthardiness.ars.usda](https://planthardiness.ars.usda). gov.  \nThe first and last average fall and spring freeze dates are listed in table 1. Specific information by county can be found at the Midwestern Regional Climate Center website ([https://mrcc.purdue.edu/freeze/](https://mrcc.purdue.edu/freeze/)[ ](https://mrcc.purdue.edu/freeze/)[freezedatetool](freezedatetool)) .  \nRefer to the recommended planting date table for your USDA hardiness zone (tables 2-4) to find recommended planting periods for various crops.  \nTable 1. Date ranges for average (50% chance) last spring frost and first fall frost for hardiness zones 6a through 8b.  \n\n| Zone | Last spring frost | First fall frost |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| 6a | May 5-15 | Oct 5-15 |\n| 6b | April 25-May 5 | Oct 5-15 |\n| 7a | April 15-25 | Oct 15-25 |\n| 7b | April 5-15 | Oct 25-Nov 5 |\n| 8a | April 1-15 | Nov 1-15 |\n| 8b | March 15-April 1 | Nov 15-25 |\n\nVirginia’s mountainous topography creates a diversity of hardiness zones over a small area. For example, Roanoke County has four different hardiness zones with a 30-day planting difference between them. In addition, microclimates including south slopes will be warmer, and north slopes will be cooler. Adjust according to your specific location and experience.  \n[www.ext.vt.edu](www.ext.vt.edu)  \nFigure 1. 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map of Virginia.  \n[www.ext.vt.edu](www.ext.vt.edu)  \nRecommended Planting and Harvest Dates  \nHardiness Zone 6a and 6b  \nActual last and first killing frost dates will vary due to local conditions and yearly temperature fluctuations. You may wish to favor earlier or later planting dates within the given range based on local data or experience.  \nNote: The use of row cover fabric and cold frames may extend the expected planting and harvest window by two to four weeks in the spring and fall.  \nTable 2. Recommended planting date ranges by crop for hardiness zones 6a and 6b.  \n\n| Crop\u003Cbr>Asparagus1\u003Cbr>Beans, lima\u003Cbr>Beans, pole\u003Cbr>Beans, snap2\u003Cbr>Beets\u003Cbr>Broccoli3 Brussels sprouts3 Cabbage3\u003Cbr>Cabbage, Chinese3\u003Cbr>Carrots\u003Cbr>Cauliflower3\u003Cbr>Chard, Swiss Collards, kale\u003Cbr>Corn, sweet Cucumbers Eggplant3\u003Cbr>Garlic Kohlrabi Leeks3\u003Cbr>Lettuce, baby salad2\u003Cbr>Lettuce, head2,3 Muskmelon\u003Cbr>Mustard2 Okra\u003Cbr>Onion (bulbing)4 Peas, garden\u003Cbr>Peas, southern\u003Cbr>Peppers3\u003Cbr>Potatoes Pumpkin Radish2\u003Cbr>Rutabaga\u003Cbr>Spinach2\u003Cbr>Squash, summer\u003Cbr>Squash, winter Sweet potatoes Tomatoes3\u003Cbr>Turnips2\u003Cbr>Watermelon | Zone 6a Spring\u003Cbr>April 1-May 1 May 20-June 20\u003Cbr>May 15-June 15\u003Cbr>May 15-June 15 April 1-May 10\u003Cbr>April 10-May 20 not recommended April 10-May 20\u003Cbr>April 10-May 20\u003Cbr>April 1-May 10\u003Cbr>April 10-May 1\u003Cbr>","cbCaiuPhCfapKS56","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaiuPhCfapKS56","pdf",1471006,"English","# Introduction\n## When to Plant\n## Recommended Planting and Harvest Dates\n### Hardiness Zone 6a and 6b\n### Hardiness Zone 6a and 6b (Tables 2-4)","[{\"question\":\"How do USDA hardiness zones help determine planting dates in Virginia?\",\"answer\":\"The guide uses USDA plant hardiness zones to set recommended spring and fall planting periods. It recommends matching your location to the appropriate zone and then using the crop tables for that zone.\"},{\"question\":\"What climate information is used to build the frost-free timeline?\",\"answer\":\"It lists average last spring frost and first fall frost date ranges (about a 50% chance) for hardiness zones. It also advises checking county-specific or local conditions when possible.\"},{\"question\":\"How can row cover fabric or cold frames change the schedule?\",\"answer\":\"The guide notes that using row cover fabric and cold frames may extend the expected planting and harvest window by two to four weeks in both spring and fall.\"}]","Virginia’s Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide - Recommended Planting Dates and Amounts to Plant | PDF",1790066519,11]