Frost dates for Bedford, VA
At Bedford, the median last spring frost (32°F) is Apr 7 and the median first fall frost is Oct 31, for a typical growing season of 204 days. For a 90% chance that the last frost has passed, wait until Apr 24. Nearby ZIP codes are in USDA hardiness zone 7b.
- Apr 7Last spring frost (median)50% chance of 32°F after this date
- Apr 24Safer planting date10% chance of 32°F after this date
- Oct 31First fall frost (median)50% chance of 32°F by this date
- 204 daysGrowing season (median)between 32°F freezes
Last spring frost dates
The chance that the temperature drops to the threshold after each date.
| Temperature | 90% chance later | 50% chance later | 10% chance later |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 7 | Apr 20 | May 7 |
| 32°F | Mar 25 | Apr 7 | Apr 24 |
| 28°F | Mar 11 | Mar 29 | Apr 13 |
| 24°F | Feb 27 | Mar 16 | Apr 2 |
First fall frost dates
The chance that the temperature has dropped to the threshold by each date.
| Temperature | 10% chance by | 50% chance by | 90% chance by |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Oct 8 | Oct 22 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Oct 16 | Oct 31 | Nov 12 |
| 28°F | Oct 28 | Nov 9 | Nov 25 |
| 24°F | Nov 7 | Nov 25 | Dec 17 |
Growing season length
Days between the last spring and first fall freeze, as the length reached in 9, 5 and 1 out of 10 years.
| Temperature | 9 in 10 years at least | 5 in 10 years at least | 1 in 10 years at least |
|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | 163 days | 182 days | 201 days |
| 32°F | 182 days | 204 days | 223 days |
| 28°F | 204 days | 225 days | 250 days |
| 24°F | 226 days | 252 days | 279 days |
Chance of a freeze in any year
| Temperature | Chance per year |
|---|---|
| 36°F | 100% |
| 32°F | 100% |
| 28°F | 100% |
| 24°F | 100% |
ZIP codes whose closest station is this one
| ZIP | Hardiness zone | Avg. extreme low | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24523 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 2 km |
| 24570 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 7 km |
| 24556 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 11 km |
| 24174 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 14 km |
| 24121 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 22 km |
| 24104 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 22 km |
| 24571 | 7b | 5 to 10°F | 25 km |
Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones shown here are the values published in the USDA-ARS / Oregon State University PRISM Group 2023 ZIP code tables, shown unaltered. For the official interactive map, visit planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
About this station
- NOAA station ID USC00440551, at 37.3339, -79.5069, elevation 272 m (894 ft).
- Data quality: Representative (10+ years), 11 years of freeze data.
- Average days per year at or below 32°F: 84.
- Frost risk changes over short distances. Valleys and low spots freeze earlier than hillsides and city centers.
Nearby weather stations
- Lynchburg #2 (25 km)
- Buchanan (26 km)
- Lynchburg Regional Airport (27 km)
- Roanoke 8 N (40 km)
- Roanoke Regional Airport (41 km)
- Lexington (50 km)
- Rocky Mount (53 km)
- Brookneal (57 km)
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal normals by station (version 1.0.1), file dated June 27, 2023; documentation.
- USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code tables (CONUS, Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico), files dated November 17, 2023. Data © PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed November 1, 2026. Official map: planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 Gazetteer ZIP Code Tabulation Areas file, dated August 30, 2024 (ZIP centroids used to find the nearest station).
Freeze dates are 30-year probabilities, not forecasts. Check your local forecast before planting tender plants.