When to plant winter squash / pumpkin in Virginia Beach

Winter squash / Pumpkin is frost-tender, so every date keys off Virginia Beach's last spring frost of Mar 24.
Step 1 · Sow
Start seeds indoors
Mar 18 – Apr 8
Before your last frost, on a warm windowsill or heat mat.
Step 2 · Plant
Transplant outdoors
Apr 29 – May 20
Once frost risk has passed and nights stay mild.
Step 3 · Harvest
Harvest window
Jul 23 – Aug 27
Picking runs until conditions turn against the crop.
Window
Days to maturity
85 – 120 d
Virginia Beach's 237-day season leaves this much room.
Winter squash / Pumpkin on Virginia Beach's growing year
Frost-bounded season with crops mapped onto the 12-month axis.
Frost risk Growing Harvest
JAN
FEB
MAR
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEP
OCT
NOV
DEC
MAR 24
NOV 17

Common questions

When can I sow winter squash / pumpkin outdoors in Virginia Beach?

Direct-sow around late April (Apr 29–May 20) in Virginia Beach, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.

When will winter squash / pumpkin be ready to harvest in Virginia Beach?

Expect to harvest from around late July (Jul 23–Aug 27) in Virginia Beach, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 78%.

When should I start winter squash / pumpkin seeds indoors in Virginia Beach?

Start seeds indoors around mid March (Mar 18–Apr 8) in Virginia Beach, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 83%.

When can I transplant winter squash / pumpkin outdoors in Virginia Beach?

Transplant outdoors around late April (Apr 29–May 20) in Virginia Beach, based on its local frost dates. Confidence 84%.

How long is the growing season in Virginia Beach?

Virginia Beach has roughly 237 frost-free days, which is enough time to grow winter squash / pumpkin to maturity outdoors.

The rule of thumb

Sow winter squash / pumpkin 6–8 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out 2–3 weeks after it. Every date on this page is derived from that rule and Virginia Beach's frost dates.

Confidence 87/100 · Curated · based on NOAA GHCN-Daily 1991–2020 normal · frost dates are probabilities, not guarantees.