Wheeling, WV planting zone & frost dates
Wheeling is in USDA hardiness zone 6b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 20 and the first fall frost around October 29, for a growing season of about 192 days.
Planting calendar for Wheeling
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 20) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Feb 23 – Mar 9 Transplant outdoors: Apr 27 – May 4 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 9 – Feb 23 Transplant outdoors: May 4 – May 11 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 9 – Feb 23 Transplant outdoors: May 4 – May 11 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 9 – Feb 23 Transplant outdoors: Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 9 – Feb 23 Transplant outdoors: Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 27 – May 4 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 27 – May 4 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 27 – May 4 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 27 – May 4 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 9 – Mar 23 Transplant outdoors: Apr 27 – May 4 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 3 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 29).
Useful for zone 6b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Cold frame / mini greenhouse — adds weeks to a short season
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 5 | Apr 20 | May 6 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 10 | Oct 29 | Oct 15 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 6, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 15. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 6.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Wheeling
- 26003 zone 6b
Nearby cities
- Weirton zone 6b, last frost Apr 29
- Weirton Heights zone 6b, last frost Apr 29
- Fairmont zone 6b, last frost Apr 18
- Clarksburg zone 6b, last frost Apr 22
- Morgantown zone 7a, last frost Apr 26
- Vienna zone 6b, last frost Apr 14
- Parkersburg zone 6b, last frost Apr 14
- Charleston zone 7a, last frost Apr 16
Questions
What growing zone is Wheeling, WV?
Wheeling is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 6b (average extreme winter low -5°F to 0°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Wheeling?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Wheeling is April 20. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 6.
When can I plant tomatoes in Wheeling?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 27 – May 4. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Wheeling, WV (USC00469482), 1.0 km (0.6 mi) from the city center, elevation 197 m, based on 26 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.