What zone is virginia beach

Much of Virginia has a mild humid subtropical climate that is affected by the Atlantic Ocean. The far southern and eastern parts of the state can get humid and warm. Mountain regions west of the Blue Ridge have maritime temperate and humid continental climates. And the coastal areas are largely influenced by the Gulf Stream, where hurricanes are a likely occurrence. Summers in Virginia are hot and winters are typically crisp and cold. The state gets around 35 days of thunderstorms every year, mostly in the western region, and it averages just over 40 inches of precipitation annually. Virginia also sees tropical cyclones, tornadoes and impact from wild winter storms most years. July is the hottest month of the year, with the temperature across the state averaging 75 degrees. January is the coldest month and will regularly average about 36 degrees. Parts of Central Virginia will see significant snowfall during winter.

Hardiness zones are important for gardeners. Gilmour’s Interactive Planting Zone Map makes it easy to find your hardiness zone. The Virginia growing zones range from 5a to 8a. Growing and hardiness zones are also known as planting zones, and they help gardeners know which plants, vegetables and flowers are best-suited to thrive in an area. Knowing your zone means knowing which plants can survive winter. Zones also tell you when to plant, too. Virginia planting zones are based on first and last frost dates. Only grow plants that are rated for the Virginia planting zone you are in or lower. So if you live in zone 5a, plant anything rated for zones 1 through 5. Do not plant anything rated for higher zones, as those plants probably will not be able to survive winter.

Multiple vegetables and flowers grow in Virginia. Coneflower, ferns, coreopsis, perennial geranium, hardy hibiscus, catmint and black-eyed Susans are great flowers in Virginia gardens. Many vegetables grow exceptionally well in the state, too. Cucumbers, snap beans, garlic, sweet potatoes, peppers, snow peas, lettuce and squash are just a few that grow in abundance.

By: Gardening Know How

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Knowing Your Virginia Zone – Understanding the USDA Planting Map

If you live in Virginia, you will be in one of the four Virginia USDA plant hardiness zones that range from 5a in the western mountains to 8a on the eastern shore. These zones should serve as a guideline when selecting flowers, shrubs or trees for your garden.

Much of Virginia experiences a relatively mild winter with extreme low temperatures above zero; however, those that live in the northwest could see chilly winter lows down as far as -20 F.

The Virginia planting map above can be enlarged by clicking on it so that you can see which zone covers your area. Once you have determined your zone, you can use this information when you start or add to your garden and landscape.

The USDA unveiled a new plant hardiness map at the beginning of 2012 that replaces the older version from 1990. The map is much more detailed than previous versions and now takes into consideration such factors as elevation, urban heat and proximity to a large body of water.

Although there are still many other factors that affect the success rates of plants such as soil type, winter sun and humidity, amongst others, the Virginia plant map should serve as a guide when landscaping or gardening.

According to the USDA Virginia Beach is in USDA Zone 8a. Here is some general info for USDA Zone 8a to help you get started.

Average Date of Last Frost (spring)	March 15
Average Date of First Frost (fall)	November 15
Lowest Expected Low	10°F
Highest Expected Low	15°F

This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is 10°F. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near 15°F.

You can view the USDA Zone map for Virginia here:

Below is a list of planting guides for Virginia Beach, VA. These guides are based on data from Zone 8a.