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Planting Calendar for Jefferson, Fairfax County, VA | Almanac.com
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Planting Calendar for Jefferson, VA

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The planting calendar below tells you when to plant in the SPRING and also plant in the FALL, based on your zip code or postal code.

Spring Planting Calendar

Our spring planting calendar starts with the very first dates that you can plant (based on the last spring frost). But if you've missed these dates, no worries! This is why we've added "last planting dates" to our spring calendar; this is meant to help new gardeners understand that if they missed the first spring planting window, they could still get crops in the ground.

In fact, many crops with short maturity times (such as radishes) can be succession planted all the way through the summer in northern areas. However, note that some cool-seasons crops such as kale and lettuce do not grow well in hot temperatures, which can cause bolting issues.  For some gardeners, especially in the South, a break to avoid summer heat is needed, but they can start once the heat has passed. 

The dates provided are based on the number of weeks before or after frost, so we can provide a unique calendar to every user in the country. Thus, several crops (especially similar crops) may appear to have the same date. Kale and lettuce, for example, or dates for starting seeds, like broccoli and cabbage. 

Fall Planting Calendar

When we say "fall," we really mean planting in summer in time for a fall harvest. Think of this as a second summer! It's easy to keep the crops going if you've already prepared the soil! 

Many crops that would be started indoors for a spring crop can just be plunked into the soil directly for a fall crop. Not only is the soil already warm but also there are less pests and it tends to be rainier so you don't need to water as often. Some fall vegetables need to be harvested by the first frost, but many are frost-tolerant and even taste better after a kiss of fall frost!

See each plant's individual Growing Guide for more specific planting, plant care, and harvesting information.

Specifically, on the charts, there are different columns labeled as follows:

  1. Start Seeds Indoors: When to sow seeds indoors to get an early start on the season.
  2. Plant Seedlings Outdoors: When to put small seedlings that you grew indoors (OR starter plants that you bought at a garden nursery) in the outdoor soil.
  3. Start Seeds Outdoors: When to plant seeds directly into the outdoor soil.
  4. Last Date to Plant: You may plant any time from the "start seeds" dates until this "last date." Don't wait any longer, or the crop won't have time to get to harvest before fall/winter frosts.

The "Moon Dates" indicate the best planting dates based on Moon phases. You can learn more about this age-old technique below.

When N/A appears in the chart, that starting method is typically not recommended, although it is likely still possible. 

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Planting Dates for Spring

On average, your last spring frost occurs on April 20 (at VIENNA, VA climate station, elevation 416 feet).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds IndoorsPlant Seedlings
or Transplants
Start Seeds OutdoorsLast Date to Plant
ArugulaFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
Sep 26
AsparagusN/AN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-7
Apr 20
BasilFrost Mar 8-23
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Sep 12
BeetsN/AFrost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 6-7
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 26-30
May 4
Bell PeppersFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
N/AAug 1
Bok ChoyFrost Mar 8-23
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Jun 1
BroccoliFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
Aug 22
Brussels SproutsFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
Jul 18
CabbageFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
Jul 11
CantaloupesFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-23
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Jul 18
CarrotsN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 26-Apr 6
Aug 15
CauliflowerFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Apr 13-27
Moon Apr 13-23
N/AAug 15
CeleryFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
Frost Apr 20
Moon Apr 20
Aug 15
ChivesFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Aug 29
Cilantro (Coriander)N/AN/AFrost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-23
May 11
CollardsFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Aug 15
CucumbersFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Aug 15
DillN/AN/AFrost Apr 13-May 4
Moon Apr 13-23
Aug 29
Dry BeansN/AN/AFrost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Jul 18
EggplantsFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
N/AAug 15
Fava BeansN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
May 4
FennelFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Frost Apr 20-May 4
Moon Apr 20-23
Aug 8
GarlicN/AN/AN/A
Green BeansN/AN/AFrost Apr 27-May 18
Moon May 7-18
Aug 15
Honeydew MelonsFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Jul 25
Jalapeño PeppersFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
N/A
KaleFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
May 4
KohlrabiFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
May 4
LeeksFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
N/AJul 11
LettuceFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
May 4
Mustard GreensN/AN/AN/A
OkraFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 23-25
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Aug 15
OnionsN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 26-Apr 6
N/AJul 18
OreganoFrost Feb 9-Mar 8
Moon Feb 9-24
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
N/AAug 15
ParsleyFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
Frost Mar 23-Apr 27
Moon Mar 23-25, Apr 8-23
Aug 8
ParsnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 26-30
Jul 18
PeasN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
May 4
PotatoesN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 26-Apr 6
Aug 15
PumpkinsFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Jul 11
RadishesN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 26-30
Aug 29
RosemaryFrost Jan 26-Feb 9
Moon Feb 9
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
N/AAug 29
SageFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
N/AAug 8
SalsifyN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-Apr 6
Moon Mar 26-Apr 6
Jul 18
SpinachFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 23-25
May 4
Sweet CornN/AN/AFrost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
Aug 8
Sweet PotatoesN/AN/AFrost May 4-18
Moon May 4-6
Jul 11
Swiss ChardFrost Mar 8-23
Frost Apr 6-20
Moon Apr 8-20
Frost Mar 30-Apr 20
Moon Apr 8-20
May 4
ThymeFrost Feb 9-23
Moon Feb 9-23
Frost Apr 27-May 4
N/AAug 1
TomatillosFrost Mar 8-23
Frost May 4-18
Moon May 7-18
N/AAug 8
TomatoesFrost Feb 23-Mar 8
Moon Feb 23-24
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
N/AJul 25
TurnipsN/AN/AFrost Mar 23-30
Moon Mar 26-30
Sep 26
WatermelonsFrost Mar 30-Apr 13
Moon Apr 8-13
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Frost Apr 27-May 4
Jul 25
Winter SquashFrost Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Jul 4
Zucchini (Summer Squash)Frost Mar 30-Apr 6
Frost Apr 27-May 11
Moon May 7-11
Frost May 4-11
Moon May 7-11
Aug 22

Planting Dates for Fall

On average, your first fall frost occurs on October 24 (at VIENNA, VA climate station).
CropFrost Based on Frost Dates
Moon Based on Moon Dates
Start Seeds OutdoorsTransplantAverage Days to MaturityFrost Tolerance
ArugulaFrost Sep 5-Oct 10
Moon Sep 5-17, Oct 2-10
N/A40Frost-hardy
BeetsFrost Aug 1-29
Moon Aug 1-3, Aug 20-29
N/A50Frost-tolerant
Bok ChoyFrost Aug 15-Sep 5
Moon Aug 15-19, Sep 2-5
N/A50Frost-tolerant
BroccoliFrost Jul 25-Aug 1
Frost Aug 15-29
Moon Aug 15-19
60Frost-tolerant
Brussels SproutsFrost Jul 4-18
Moon Jul 5-18
N/A100Frost-hardy
CabbageFrost Jul 25-Aug 1
Frost Aug 15-22
Moon Aug 15-19
90Frost-tolerant
CarrotsFrost Aug 8-15
N/A70Frost-tolerant
CauliflowerFrost Jul 18-25
Moon Jul 18-21
Frost Aug 1-8
Moon Aug 4-8
75Frost-tolerant
ChivesFrost Aug 1-29
Moon Aug 4-19
N/A70Frost-tolerant
FennelFrost Jul 25-Aug 8
Moon Aug 4-8
N/A80Tender
GarlicFrost Nov 6-20
Moon Nov 16-20
N/A120Frost-hardy
Green BeansFrost Aug 8-22
Moon Aug 8-19
N/A55Tender
KaleFrost Aug 15-29
Moon Aug 15-19
N/A60Frost-hardy
KohlrabiFrost Aug 22-Sep 12
Moon Sep 2-12
N/A45Frost-tolerant
LettuceFrost Aug 15-29
Moon Aug 15-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
Mustard GreensFrost Aug 22-Sep 12
Moon Sep 2-12
N/A45Tender
PeasFrost Aug 15-29
Moon Aug 15-19
N/A55Tender
RadishesFrost Sep 12-26
Moon Sep 18-26
N/A25Frost-tolerant
SpinachFrost Sep 5-26
Moon Sep 5-17
N/A30Frost-hardy
Swiss ChardFrost Aug 15-29
Moon Aug 15-19
N/A60Frost-tolerant
TurnipsFrost Aug 22-Sep 5
Moon Aug 22-Sep 1
N/A50Frost-tolerant
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