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Richmond, Virginia · vegetable planting calendar
What to plant now in Richmond
This month's sowing list for Richmond, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.
October
10 vegetables to sow or plant now
2 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 10, and frost is unlikely after about April 20.
Quick, easy wins this month: arugula, radish, bok choy, cilantro, spinach and chives.
Sow or plant in Richmond in October
Start seeds indoors
Nothing this month.
Direct sow
- Arugula
- Bok choy
- Cilantro
- Dill
- Radish
- Spinach
Transplant
- Garlic
- Chives
- Kale
- Parsley
Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.
Last month to start: arugula, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, parsley, radish and spinach.
Ready to pick in October
- Arugula
- Basil
- Beets
- Bell pepper
- Bok choy
- Broccoli
- Bush beans
- Cabbage
- Carrot
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Cucumber
- Dill
- Hot pepper
- Kale
- Lettuce
- Parsley
- Parsnip
- Pole beans
- Radish
- Runner beans
- Rutabaga
- Scallions
- Strawberry
- Sweet corn
- Swiss chard
- Tomato
- Turnip
- Winter squash
- Zucchini
Coming up in November
Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.
When to plant the favourites in Richmond
Tomatoes
Start seeds indoors: March to June.
Transplant: April to July.
Best time to start: April to June.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 16 weeks after starting.
Potatoes
Plant: March to April.
Best time to start: March to April.
Pick: June to August and November.
First pick about 10 weeks after starting.
Garlic
Plant: September to December.
Best time to start: September to December.
Pick: May to July.
First pick about 28 weeks after starting.
Lettuce
Direct sow: February to May and September.
Best time to start: February to April and September.
Pick: May to June and October to January.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Carrots
Direct sow: February to May and August to September.
Best time to start: February to April and August.
Pick: May to January.
First pick about 8 weeks after starting.
Bush beans
Direct sow: April to August.
Best time to start: April to August.
Pick: June to October.
First pick about 7 weeks after starting.
Onions
Start seeds indoors: December to March.
Transplant: February to May.
Best time to start: February to May.
Pick: June to August.
First pick about 20 weeks after starting.
Strawberries
Plant: March to May.
Best time to start: March to May.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 14 weeks after starting.
Winter squash
Start seeds indoors: April to June.
Direct sow: April to July.
Transplant: April to July.
Best time to start: April to July.
Pick: July to October.
First pick about 13 weeks after starting.
Zucchini
Start seeds indoors: April to August.
Direct sow: April to August.
Transplant: April to August.
Best time to start: April to July.
Pick: June to October.
First pick about 6 weeks after starting.
The planting year in Richmond
- Start seeds indoors
- Direct sow
- Transplant
- Pick
- Paler: possible, but not the best time
| Vegetable | O | N | D | J | F | M | A | M | J | J | A | S | First pick |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arugula | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||||||
| Basil | T | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Beets | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||
| Bell pepper | T | P | P | P | P | about 16 weeks | |||||||
| Bok choy | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 4 weeks | |||
| Broccoli | T | T | P | P | T | P | P | about 13 weeks | |||||
| Brussels sprouts | T | P | about 22 weeks | ||||||||||
| Bush beans | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Cabbage | T | T | P | P | P | T | P | P | about 14 weeks | ||||
| Cantaloupe | T | S | S | S | about 9 weeks | ||||||||
| Carrot | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | ||||||
| Cauliflower | T | P | P | about 15 weeks | |||||||||
| Celeriac | T | T | P | P | P | P | P | about 20 weeks | |||||
| Celery | T | T | P | P | about 21 weeks | ||||||||
| Chives | P | T | S | S | S | S | T | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||
| Cilantro | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||
| Cucumber | T | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||||
| Dill | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||
| Eggplant | T | T | P | P | P | about 17 weeks | |||||||
| Fava beans | S | S | S | about 13 weeks | |||||||||
| Garlic | P | P | P | P | about 28 weeks | ||||||||
| Hot pepper | T | P | P | P | P | about 18 weeks | |||||||
| Kale | P | S | S | S | S | T | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||
| Leek | T | T | P | P | P | about 20 weeks | |||||||
| Lettuce | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Okra | S | S | about 6 weeks | ||||||||||
| Onion | T | T | P | P | P | P | about 20 weeks | ||||||
| Parsley | P | T | S | S | S | P | T | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||
| Parsnip | S | S | S | S | S | about 11 weeks | |||||||
| Peas | S | S | S | S | about 10 weeks | ||||||||
| Pole beans | S | S | S | S | S | about 8 weeks | |||||||
| Potato | P | P | about 10 weeks | ||||||||||
| Radish | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 3 weeks | ||||
| Runner beans | S | about 9 weeks | |||||||||||
| Rutabaga | S | S | S | S | about 11 weeks | ||||||||
| Scallions | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 5 weeks | ||||
| Spinach | S | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | |||||||
| Strawberry | P | P | P | about 14 weeks | |||||||||
| Sweet corn | S | S | S | S | P | about 9 weeks | |||||||
| Sweet potato | P | P | about 11 weeks | ||||||||||
| Swiss chard | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks | |||||
| Tomato | T | P | P | P | P | about 16 weeks | |||||||
| Turnip | S | S | S | S | about 7 weeks | ||||||||
| Watermelon | T | S | S | S | about 10 weeks | ||||||||
| Winter squash | S | S | S | S | about 13 weeks | ||||||||
| Zucchini | S | S | S | S | S | about 6 weeks |
The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.
Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: celeriac, fava beans, parsnip and rutabaga.
Richmond season by season
Spring March to May
Time to start: basil, beets, bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, hot pepper, parsnip, pole beans, potato, strawberry, sweet corn, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Last chance for: arugula, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, peas, potato, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry and turnip.
Summer June to August
Time to start: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, dill, kale, okra, parsnip, radish, runner beans and rutabaga.
Last chance for: basil, beets, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, celeriac, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, parsnip, pole beans, radish, runner beans, rutabaga, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.
Fall September to November
Time to start: arugula, cilantro, garlic, lettuce, peas, spinach and turnip.
Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, radish, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.
Winter December to February
Time to start: arugula, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celeriac, celery, chives, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach and turnip.
Last chance for: garlic.
Frost in Richmond
- Last frost, most years
- around April 10
- Frost is unlikely after
- about April 20
- First frost, most years
- around November 4
- Frost-free days in a year
- about 208
The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.
Questions about planting in Richmond
What can I plant now in Richmond?
In October, 10 vegetables can be sown or planted in Richmond, including arugula, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, kale and parsley. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.
When should I plant tomatoes in Richmond?
In Richmond, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from April to July. The best time to start is from April to June. Picking runs from July to October.
When should I plant potatoes in Richmond?
In Richmond, plant potatoes from March to April. The best time to start is from March to April. Picking runs from June to August and in November.
When should I plant garlic in Richmond?
In Richmond, plant garlic from September to December. The best time to start is from September to December. Picking runs from May to July.
When is the last frost in Richmond?
In most years the last frost in Richmond comes around April 10. Frost is unlikely after about April 20, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around November 4.
Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Richmond?
The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), beets (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), cucumber (about 6 weeks) and Swiss chard (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.
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These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Richmond. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).