Huntington, West Virginia: planting zone & frost dates
Huntington is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C). The typical last spring frost is around Apr 19 and the first fall frost around Oct 24.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | May 2 | Oct 16 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
| Median (50%) | Apr 12 | Oct 30 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station HUNTINGTON SWG PL, WV (USC00464397), 5.0 mi (8.1 km) from the city center and 46 ft lower than the city center (-14 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 21 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Huntington
All 6 ZIP codes covering Huntington are in zone 7a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Huntington
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Apr 19, first frost Oct 24). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 10 | — | — |
| Pepper | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | Mar 22 – May 3 | Aug 15 – Sep 12 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Apr 26 – May 31 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 26 – May 24 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 22 – Mar 29 | Apr 26 – May 10 | Apr 26 – May 17 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Cucumber | Mar 22 – Mar 29 | May 3 – May 10 | Apr 26 – May 17 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 29 – May 3 | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Onion | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 22 – Apr 12 | — | — |
| Basil | Mar 8 – Mar 22 | May 3 – May 17 | May 3 – May 24 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Mar 8 – Apr 5 | Aug 29 – Sep 26 |
| Kale | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 12 | Mar 22 – Apr 12 | Aug 15 – Sep 12 |
| Broccoli | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 5 – Apr 26 | — | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Peas | — | — | Mar 8 – Mar 29 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 |
| Eggplant | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 | — | Aug 1 – Aug 15 |
| Radish | — | — | Mar 15 – May 3 | Sep 12 – Oct 10 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 22 – Apr 12 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 29 – May 10 | Aug 15 – Aug 29 |
Nearby cities in West Virginia
- Charleston — zone 7a, last frost Apr 23, first frost Oct 21
More: all West Virginia cities · other zone 7a cities: Louisville, KY, Wichita, KS, Cleveland, OH, Lexington, KY, St. Louis, MO, Boise, ID, Amarillo, TX, Providence, RI
Huntington gardening questions
When is the last frost in Huntington, WV?
Plan around Apr 19. At NOAA's Huntington Swg Pl, WV station, 5.0 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Apr 12, and after May 2 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Mar 31. The 90% and 10% dates are 33 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Huntington, WV?
Start seeds indoors Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside Apr 26 – May 10, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 188 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Huntington?
About 200 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 177 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 219 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Oct 16 and a 30% chance by Oct 24.
When should I plant a fall garden in Huntington?
Count back from the first fall frost (Oct 24): transplant broccoli Aug 1 – Aug 15; sow kale Aug 15 – Sep 12; sow lettuce Aug 15 – Sep 12; sow radishes Sep 12 – Oct 10. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Nov 8. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Huntington's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
Yes. Most of Huntington was zone 6b on the 2012 map and is zone 7a on the 2023 map — half a zone warmer, like about 56% of U.S. ZIP codes. The shift comes from a newer 1991–2020 averaging period plus more weather stations and better mapping; it does not mean last frost comes earlier. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
How does Huntington compare with Charleston, WV?
Both are in zone 7a. The typical last spring frost in Huntington (Apr 19) comes about 4 days earlier than in Charleston, WV (Apr 23), 44 miles away, and the first fall frost is Oct 24 versus Oct 21. The two cities use different NOAA stations.