Seed Starting Calendar for West Virginia

Q: When is the last frost in West Virginia?

It depends on the station. The earliest median last spring freeze in West Virginia is April 7 at London Locks; the latest is May 15 at Canaan Valley #2. A median is a coin flip: at Morgantown the last 32°F freeze comes after April 23 in half of years, and has passed by May 14 in 9 of 10 years (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals).

Q: When can I plant tomatoes outside in West Virginia?

UNH Extension sets tomatoes out 1 to 2 weeks after the last frost, which at Morgantown is Apr 30 to May 7 in 2027. Tomatoes are frost tender, so the date to watch is May 14, when 9 of 10 springs at Morgantown have had their last 32°F night. Hardening off starts two weeks before setting out (Apr 16 to Apr 30).

Q: What months do I plant vegetables in West Virginia?

WVU Extension publishes planting months by region (West Virginia). For West Virginia, tomatoes go in during March, April and May. Seeds for transplants go in 4 to 10 weeks ahead of those months, depending on the crop.

Q: What does WVU Extension say about planting dates in West Virginia?

WVU Extension's Seed Starting puts it this way: "Generally, most seed packs will say when to seed indoors, so check the back of the seed packet to find out when to seed prior to transplanting outside." The guide is linked below with the date it was read (September 21, 2026).

Q: How many weeks before the last frost do I start peppers and eggplant?

UNH Extension gives 8 to 10 weeks from seed to transplant for both, and sets peppers out 2 weeks after the last frost and eggplant 2 to 3 weeks after, so the sowing date is 6 to 8 weeks before the median last frost. At Morgantown that is Feb 26 to Mar 12 for peppers.

Q: How long do seedlings need to harden off?

About two weeks. University of Missouri Extension: "Hardening should be started about two weeks before planting in the garden." University of Minnesota Extension adds that seedlings should go out on a cloudy day or in the late afternoon.

Median last frost from Apr 12 to May 10 across West Virginia

NOAA stations

Median last frost, Morgantown

Apr 23

Passed in 9 of 10 years

May 14

Last frost

Last spring frost dates in West Virginia

Charleston in the Kanawha Valley reaches its median last frost around Apr 16, Martinsburg, Bluefield and Morgantown around Apr 20 to Apr 23, and Elkins in the Alleghenies around May 5.

Three dates per station from the NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals. The median is the date half of springs run past. The last column is the date the last 32°F night has passed by in 9 years out of 10, the one to hold tender transplants for.

Station	Elevation	Early (1 in 10 years later than this)	Median last frost	Passed in 9 of 10 years	Median first fall frost
CharlestonCharleston Yeager Airport, USW00013866	910 ft	Apr 1	Apr 16	May 5	Oct 26
Martinsburg E Wv Regional AirportMartinsburg E Wv Regional Airport, USW00013734	534 ft	Apr 3	Apr 20	May 12	Oct 22
Bluefield Mercer County AirportBluefield Mercer County Airport, USW00003859	2,870 ft	Apr 6	Apr 21	May 11	Oct 22
MorgantownMorgantown Hart Field, USW00013736	1,240 ft	Apr 7	Apr 23	May 14	Oct 24
ElkinsElkins Randolph County Airport, USW00013729	1,979 ft	Apr 20	May 5	May 21	Oct 12

Crop chart

When to start seeds in West Virginia, spring 2027

Counted back from the median last frost at Morgantown, April 23. Pick another station to redraw the chart for it.

Start indoorsHarden offSet outSow outdoorsMedian last frostLast freeze passed in 9 of 10 years

Every crop, counted from a median last frost of April 23
Crop	Start indoors	Set out	Sow outdoors	Frost class
Tomato	Mar 5 to Mar 19	Apr 30 to May 7		Tender, very tender
Pepper	Feb 26 to Mar 12	May 7 to May 14		Tender, very tender
Eggplant	Feb 26 to Mar 12	May 7 to May 14		Tender, very tender
Basil	Mar 12 to Mar 26	May 7 to May 14		Tender
Celery	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Apr 23 to Apr 30		Tender
Cucumber	Apr 2 to Apr 9	Apr 30 to May 7	Apr 23 to Apr 30	Tender
Summer squash	Apr 9 to Apr 16	May 7 to May 14	Apr 23 to Apr 30	Tender
Winter squash	Apr 9 to Apr 16	May 7 to May 14	May 7 to May 14	Tender, very tender
Pumpkin	Apr 9 to Apr 16	May 7 to May 14	May 7 to May 14	Tender, very tender
Melon (cantaloupe)	Apr 9 to Apr 16	May 7 to May 14		Tender, very tender
Watermelon	Apr 2 to Apr 16	May 7 to May 14		Tender, very tender
Onion (from seed)	Jan 15 to Jan 29	Mar 26 to Apr 2		Hardy
Leek	Jan 15 to Jan 29	Mar 26 to Apr 2		Hardy
Parsley	Jan 22 to Jan 29	Apr 2 to Apr 9		Half-hardy
Broccoli	Feb 12 to Feb 26	Mar 26 to Apr 9		Hardy
Brussels sprouts	Feb 12 to Feb 26	Mar 26 to Apr 9		Hardy
Cabbage	Feb 12 to Feb 26	Mar 26 to Apr 2		Hardy
Cauliflower	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 9 to Apr 16		Half-hardy
Kale	Feb 12 to Feb 26	Mar 26 to Apr 2		Hardy
Lettuce	Feb 19 to Feb 26	Mar 26 to Apr 2		Hardy
Swiss chard	Feb 26 to Mar 12	Apr 9 to Apr 16	Mar 26 to Apr 2	Half-hardy
Spinach	Jan 29 to Feb 12	Mar 12 to Apr 2	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Hardy
Peas			Mar 26 to Apr 9	Hardy
Radish			Mar 26 to Apr 9	Hardy
Carrot			Apr 9 to Apr 23	Half-hardy
Beet			Apr 9 to Apr 23	Half-hardy
Beans			Apr 23 to Apr 30	Tender
Sweet corn			Apr 23 to Apr 30	Tender

Six square pots of dark compost seen from above, each holding a single seedling with two narrow seed leaves — Tomato seedlings at the seed leaf stage, one to a pot. The University of Minnesota Extension holds off on fertilizer until a seedling has several sets of true leaves, then feeds at quarter strength once a week. “Tomato Seedlings (49768696597)” by Amanda Slater from Coventry, West Midlands, UK, CC BY-SA 2.0

Extension guide

What WVU Extension advises

WVU Extension publishes the planting guide West Virginia gardeners work from, Seed Starting.

“Generally, most seed packs will say when to seed indoors, so check the back of the seed packet to find out when to seed prior to transplanting outside.”

WVU Extension, Seed Starting, quoted exactly.

“Starting seeds indoors can be a rewarding experience as you watch the change from seed to seedling to a thriving plant, producing tasty produce or beautiful blooms.”

WVU Extension, Seed Starting, quoted exactly.

Planting months

WVU Extension planting months for West Virginia

The extension also publishes planting months by region. Each filled cell is a month the guide gives for planting that crop.

West Virginia (statewide; indoor seed starting months)

Crop	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jul
broccoli		Feb	Mar			Jul
cabbage		Feb	Mar			Jul
cauliflower		Feb	Mar
cucumber				Apr
lettuce	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May
pepper			Mar
tomato			Mar	Apr	May
melon				Apr
basil			Mar	Apr

Planting months from WVU Extension, Seed Starting, read 2026-09-21. Tomatoes in West Virginia: March, April and May.

A gardener kneeling beside a raised bed setting a young tomato plant into dark soil, an empty nursery pot beside her — Setting out a tomato in June at a community garden. Tender crops go out after the last frost, and after a week or two of hardening off outdoors. “Volunteer planting heirloom tomato (4704185147)”, Pacific Southwest Region 5, Public domain

Seed starting questions for West Virginia

When should I start seeds indoors in West Virginia?

Count back from the median last frost where you garden. At Morgantown (Morgantown Hart Field) that date is April 23, so for spring 2027 onions start indoors Jan 15 to Jan 29, peppers Feb 26 to Mar 12 and tomatoes Mar 5 to Mar 19. Across West Virginia's 99 NOAA stations the median last frost runs from Apr 12 to May 10 for the middle 90 percent, so a garden near Canaan Valley #2 starts later than one near London Locks.

When is the last frost in West Virginia?

When can I plant tomatoes outside in West Virginia?

What months do I plant vegetables in West Virginia?

What does WVU Extension say about planting dates in West Virginia?

How many weeks before the last frost do I start peppers and eggplant?

How long do seedlings need to harden off?

Why do seed starting dates differ across West Virginia?

Frost dates from NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020, annual/seasonal, by station (v1.0.1). Planting guidance from WVU Extension, quoted exactly. Seed starting weeks from UNH Cooperative Extension. Compiled 2026-09-21.

First frost in West VirginiaThe other end of the season: when fall frost ends the tender crops.Soil temperatureBeans, corn and squash sown direct wait on warm soil as well as the last frost.West Virginia lawn care calendarSpring seeding, feeding and mowing dates on the same climate.Fall planting calendarGarlic, cool season crops and a second sowing window in the fall.Frost dates by ZIPFirst and last frost odds for any address.