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Charleston, WV Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 7a · ZIP 25301 · elevation 277′ · NOAA & USDA data

Charleston is in USDA hardiness zone 7a (winters can dip to 0 to 5°F), with a growing season of about 192 days between the average last spring frost (April 16) and first fall frost (October 26). The warmest month is July (avg high 86°F); the coldest is January (avg low 26.1°F). It averages 46.2″ of precipitation a year and 31.5″ of snow, mostly mid-winter. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
7a
min temp 0 to 5°F
Last spring frost
April 16
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
October 26
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
192 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
July
avg high 86°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Charleston

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Charleston Yeager Ap, WV (2.8 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 43.9 26.1 35 3.3 10.3
February 47.8 28.6 38.2 3.4 7.7
March 56.8 35.1 46 4.1 5.9
April 69.4 44.5 56.9 3.6 0.5
May 76.2 53.2 64.7 4.9 0
June 83.1 61.5 72.3 4.7 0
July 86 65.5 75.8 5.4 0
August 85.2 64.1 74.6 3.8 0
September 79.5 57.1 68.3 3.5 0
October 68.7 45.3 57 2.9 0.6
November 57.3 35.6 46.4 3.2 1.5
December 47.5 29.9 38.7 3.6 5

What to plant when in Charleston

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: March 5 · Transplant out: April 23
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: February 19 · Transplant out: April 30
CucumberswarmDirect sow: April 23
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: April 23
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: April 23
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: April 23
BasilwarmTransplant out: April 23
PeascoolSow (spring): March 12 · Sow (fall): August 31
SpinachcoolSow (spring): March 5 · Sow (fall): August 31
LettucecoolSow (spring): March 19 · Sow (fall): August 31
KalecoolTransplant (spring): March 26 · Sow (fall): August 17
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): April 2
CarrotscoolSow (spring): March 26 · Sow (fall): August 17
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): March 19
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: April 2
RadishescoolSow (spring): March 19 · Sow (fall): September 14

Dates are computed from Charleston's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

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Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in West Virginia

Huntington, WV

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Charleston Yeager Ap, WV, 2.8 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Charleston Yeager Ap, WV, 2.8 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.