Frost Dates for Radford, VA 24142
Radford has 2 ZIP codes. The Radford, VA frost page lists all of them with their dates.
Last spring frost May 4 · First fall frost October 6 · 155 frost-free days · USDA Zone 5b (est.)
ZIP 24142 has about 2,210 people, one of 2 ZIP codes in Radford.
Moderate season: 155 frost-free days. Spring frost risk spans April 19–May 21 (32 days). Fall frost risk spans September 24–October 18 (24 days).
Frost probability for 24142
| Frost | 10% | 50% | 90% |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring (last frost) | May 21 | May 4 | April 19 |
| Fall (first frost) | September 24 | October 6 | October 18 |
Dates come from NOAA 1971–2000 freeze probabilities at BLACKSBURG NWSO (14.1 km away); the 50% date is the median year.
Which crops fit a 155-day season in Radford
In Radford (155 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant out / sow | Days you have | Verdict | Last sow date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Mar 30 | May 18–May 25 | 113 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 113 available after May 18. | Jun 6 |
| Pepper | Mar 23 | May 18–May 25 | 113 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 113 available after May 18. | Jun 11 |
| Lettuce | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 13 | 190 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 15 |
| Carrots | — | Apr 13–Apr 20 | 197 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 197 available after Apr 13. | Aug 4 |
| Cucumber | Apr 13 | May 18–May 25 | 127 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 127 available after May 18. | Jul 10 |
| Beans | — | May 11–May 25 | 141 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 17; both mature before Sep 29. | Jul 17 |
| Peas | — | Mar 9–May 18 | 218 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 218 available after Mar 9. | Jul 26 |
| Zucchini | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 127 | two-plantings: Plant May 18 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 15 |
| Onion | Feb 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 190 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 190 available after Apr 6. | — |
| Spinach | — | Mar 9–Apr 27 | 232 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 3; both mature before Oct 27. | Sep 3 |
| Kale | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 204 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 19 |
| Broccoli | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 190 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 190 available after Apr 6. | Jul 11 |
| Cabbage | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 204 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 204 available after Apr 6. | Aug 4 |
| Radish | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 218 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 4; both mature before Oct 13. | Sep 4 |
| Beets | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 218 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 5 |
| Potatoes | — | Apr 20–Apr 27 | 176 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 176 available after Apr 20. | — |
| Garlic | — | Oct 6 | 260 | overwinter: Plant Oct 6 to Oct 27; harvest the following summer. | Oct 27 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 30–May 25 | 211 | perennial: A perennial: plant Mar 30; it fruits from the following year and keeps producing for several years. | — |
| Corn | Apr 6 | May 11–May 18 | 127 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 127 available after May 11. | Jun 18 |
| Pumpkin | Apr 20 | May 18–May 18 | 120 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 120 available after May 18. | May 24 |
| Cauliflower | Mar 23 | Apr 27–May 11 | 169 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 169 available after Apr 27. | Jul 16 |
| Swiss Chard | Mar 9 | Apr 20–Apr 20 | 176 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 5 |
| Arugula | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 232 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Sep 3; both mature before Oct 27. | Sep 3 |
| Brussel Sprouts | Mar 9 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 204 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 204 available after Apr 6. | Jul 5 |
| Butternut Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 120 | fits: 100 days to maturity, 120 available after May 18. | May 24 |
| Eggplant | Mar 16 | May 18–May 25 | 113 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 113 available after May 18. | Jun 16 |
| Okra | Apr 6 | May 11–May 18 | 134 | two-plantings: Plant May 11 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 15 |
| Basil | Mar 30 | May 25–May 25 | 120 | fits: 60 days to maturity, 120 available after May 25. | Jul 10 |
| Cilantro | — | Apr 6–Apr 27 | 190 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 10 |
| Parsley | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 155 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 155 available after May 11. | Jul 21 |
| Celery | Feb 23 | May 11–May 25 | 155 | fits: 120 days to maturity, 155 available after May 11. | Jun 1 |
| Scallions | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 204 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 14 |
| Turnip | — | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 204 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 24; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 24 |
| Kohlrabi | — | Mar 23–Apr 6 | 218 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 23 and again by Aug 19; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 19 |
| Bok Choy | Apr 6 | Apr 27–May 4 | 169 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 27 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 15 |
| Collards | Feb 23 | Apr 6–Apr 20 | 204 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 14; both mature before Oct 27. | Aug 14 |
| Cantaloupe | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 113 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 113 available after May 18. | Jun 1 |
| Chives | Feb 9 | May 11–May 18 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after May 11. | — |
| Dill | — | Mar 9–Jun 1 | 218 | two-plantings: Plant Mar 9 and again by Aug 5; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 5 |
| Oregano | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 169 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 169 available after May 11. | — |
| Rosemary | Feb 9 | May 11–May 18 | 155 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 155 available after May 11. | — |
| Sage | Mar 9 | May 11–May 18 | 169 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 169 available after May 11. | — |
| Thyme | Feb 23 | May 11–May 18 | 169 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 169 available after May 11. | — |
| Calendula | Mar 23 | Apr 20–May 4 | 176 | two-plantings: Plant Apr 20 and again by Aug 10; both mature before Oct 13. | Aug 10 |
| Cosmos | Apr 6 | May 4–May 18 | 141 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 10 |
| Lavender | Feb 9 | May 4–May 18 | 176 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 176 available after May 4. | — |
| Marigolds | Mar 23 | May 4–May 11 | 141 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 20; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 20 |
| Melons | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 113 | fits: 85 days to maturity, 113 available after May 18. | Jun 1 |
| Mint | — | May 4–May 18 | 176 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 176 available after May 4. | — |
| Nasturtiums | Apr 6 | May 4–May 11 | 141 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 15 |
| Pole Beans | — | May 11–May 25 | 134 | fits: 65 days to maturity, 134 available after May 11. | Jul 5 |
| Spaghetti Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 120 | fits: 90 days to maturity, 120 available after May 18. | Jun 3 |
| Sunflowers | — | May 4–May 18 | 141 | fits: 70 days to maturity, 141 available after May 4. | Jun 30 |
| Tomatillos | Mar 9 | May 11–May 18 | 120 | fits: 75 days to maturity, 120 available after May 11. | Jun 11 |
| Watermelon | Apr 20 | May 11–May 18 | 120 | fits: 80 days to maturity, 120 available after May 11. | Jun 6 |
| Yellow Squash | Apr 20 | May 18–May 25 | 127 | two-plantings: Plant May 18 and again by Jul 15; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 15 |
| Zinnias | Apr 6 | May 4–May 18 | 141 | two-plantings: Plant May 4 and again by Jul 10; both mature before Sep 22. | Jul 10 |
Month by month in Radford
| Month | What to do |
|---|---|
| January | Plan your garden layout and order seeds. Research varieties suited to your frost dates. |
| February | Start indoors: Chives (Feb 9), Lavender (Feb 9), Onion (Feb 9), Rosemary (Feb 9), Celery (Feb 23), Collards (Feb 23), +5 more. |
| March | Start indoors: Broccoli (Mar 9), Brussel Sprouts (Mar 9), Cabbage (Mar 9), Lettuce (Mar 9), Sage (Mar 9), Swiss Chard (Mar 9), +8 more. Direct sow from: Arugula (Mar 9), Beets (Mar 9), Dill (Mar 9), Peas (Mar 9), Radish (Mar 9), Spinach (Mar 9), +1 more. Plant: Strawberry (Mar 30). |
| April | Start indoors: Bok Choy (Apr 6), Corn (Apr 6), Cosmos (Apr 6), Nasturtiums (Apr 6), Okra (Apr 6), Zinnias (Apr 6), +9 more. Direct sow from: Cilantro (Apr 6), Turnip (Apr 6), Carrots (Apr 13), Potatoes (Apr 20). Transplant from: Broccoli (Apr 6), Brussel Sprouts (Apr 6), Cabbage (Apr 6), Collards (Apr 6), Kale (Apr 6), Lettuce (Apr 6), +6 more. |
| May | Direct sow from: Sunflowers (May 4), Beans (May 11), Pole Beans (May 11). Transplant from: Cosmos (May 4), Lavender (May 4), Marigolds (May 4), Mint (May 4), Nasturtiums (May 4), Zinnias (May 4), +23 more. Last frost around May 4. Last sowing dates: Butternut Squash (May 24), Pumpkin (May 24). |
| June | Last sowing dates: Cantaloupe (Jun 1), Celery (Jun 1), Melons (Jun 1), Spaghetti Squash (Jun 3), Tomato (Jun 6), Watermelon (Jun 6), +5 more. |
| July | Last sowing dates: Brussel Sprouts (Jul 5), Pole Beans (Jul 5), Basil (Jul 10), Cosmos (Jul 10), Cucumber (Jul 10), Zinnias (Jul 10), +10 more. |
| August | Last sowing dates: Cabbage (Aug 4), Carrots (Aug 4), Beets (Aug 5), Dill (Aug 5), Swiss Chard (Aug 5), Calendula (Aug 10), +8 more. |
| September | Last sowing dates: Arugula (Sep 3), Spinach (Sep 3), Radish (Sep 4). |
| October | Direct sow from: Garlic (Oct 6). First frost around October 6. Last sowing dates: Garlic (Oct 27). |
| November | Harvest remaining cold-hardy crops: kale, carrots, and beets. Plant garlic bulbs for next year. |
| December | Clean up spent plants. Add compost to beds. Rest, review, and plan next year's garden. |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the last frost date for Radford, VA (ZIP 24142)?
The median last spring frost date for Radford, VA (ZIP code 24142) is around May 4. This is the 50th-percentile date — meaning half of all years see frost end before this date. Use the 10% and 90% dates to understand the full range of risk in your area. One year in ten frost ends before April 19; one in ten it runs past May 21.
What is the first fall frost date in Radford, VA?
The median first fall frost date for Radford, VA is around October 6. Plan to harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops like tomatoes and peppers at least a week before this date to avoid losses. The first frost arrives around September 24 in the earliest one-in-ten years, so cover tomatoes and peppers from then.
How long is the growing season in Radford, VA?
The frost-free growing season in Radford is about 155 days. This window — from your last spring frost to your first fall frost — is when warm-season vegetables thrive. Cold-hardy crops like kale, spinach, and peas can extend your season by weeks on either side. In Radford (155 frost-free days, a moderate season), 32 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 23 get two plantings, 1 crop is perennial.
What USDA hardiness zone is Radford, VA?
Radford, VA is approximately in USDA zone 5b. The 2023 USDA map does not list ZIP 24142, so this is estimated from local frost patterns; check the USDA map for your exact address.
When should I start tomatoes indoors in Radford, VA?
Start tomatoes indoors Mar 30 and plant out May 18 in Radford. The planner uses the local median last frost and this crop's indoor-start and transplant offsets.
How many plantings of lettuce fit in Radford?
Two: plant Apr 6 and again by Aug 15; both mature before Oct 13.
When do I plant garlic in Radford?
Oct 6 to Oct 27; it overwinters and is ready the following summer.
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