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When to Plant Daylily in Craig County, VA

Craig County, Virginia Zone 7a June

Your June game plan for Craig County, Virginia

Your Craig County, Virginia garden is entering a new phase. Here's what's on the schedule for June and why each task matters now.

Avg. last frost April 26
Avg. first frost October 19
Soil temp (4") 74°F
Watering Low
Pest pressure High
Daylight 14.6 hrs
  1. Fire up the seed-starting tray: daylily

    Give them 6–8 weeks indoors before the last frost and you'll transplant into warm soil with seedlings that are already leaping.

July will be here before you know it — start on
  • First harvests: daylily

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Hemerocallis (Daylily) is one of the most adaptable and trouble-free perennials in cultivation. Though each flower lasts only a single day, established clumps produce dozens to hundreds of buds per stem, delivering weeks of continuous color through summer. Modern hybrids extend the range from pale cream and melon through deep burgundy and purple. Nearly indestructible once established — tolerating poor soil, drought, competition, and neglect — daylilies form dense spreading clumps that effectively suppress weeds. An excellent low-maintenance choice for slopes, borders, and naturalized areas.

Craig County, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and the first fall frost is October 19, giving you a growing season of approximately 176 days.

At an elevation of 460 feet, Craig County receives approximately 43 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 85°F, providing good warmth for Daylily during the growing season.

Perennial Blooms in Summer Pollinator-friendly Good for cutting
Craig County, VA (Zone 7a) Moderate season
176 days
Last Spring Frost April 26
176 growing days
First Fall Frost October 19

Craig County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Daylily Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Feb 16 Transplant: Apr 27 🌸 Bloom: Jul 6 – Nov 9
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Feb 22 Transplant: May 3 🌸 Bloom: Jul 12 – Nov 15
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Start indoors: Mar 13 Transplant: May 22 🌸 Bloom: Jul 31 – Dec 4

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Craig County

How your county's soil matches Daylily's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.8) overlaps with Daylily's range (6.0–7.0), though not a perfect match.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Craig County is excellent for Daylily — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Drainage

Daylily prefers dry conditions but your soil drains poorly. Use raised beds or mounded rows to prevent root rot.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (3.0%). Annual compost additions will help Daylily.

How to Plant Daylily

1"
Planting Depth
24"
Between Plants
30"
Between Rows

Succession Planting Daylily

3
successive plantings in your 176-day season

Sow every 6.9 weeks. Last sowing by Jul 21 to harvest before frost.

Daylily Water Budget

Plant needs
0.5″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Daylily

Daylily needs approximately 0.5 inches of water per week (2.2" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Daylily Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 2.2" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 2.2" 3.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 2.2" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 2.2" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 2.2" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 2.2" 2.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 2.2" 2.5" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.7" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Craig County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Daylily Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Daylily needs ~1,031 GDD — county provides 2,420 GDD Excellent fit

Daylily Planting Timeline — Craig County, VA

Daylily Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 22 Feb 22 – Mar 8
Transplant Outdoors May 3 May 3 – May 17
Bloom July 12 Jul 12 – Nov 15

Plant 1" deep · 24" apart · Rows 30" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors
April
May Transplant Outdoors
June
July Bloom
August Bloom
September Bloom
October Bloom
November Bloom
December

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.5"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

60–90 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6–7 · Your soil: acceptable

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7a

📆 Growing Season

176 days in Craig County

Growing Tips for Daylily in Craig County

Direct sow Daylily outdoors after April 26 in Craig County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

General growing tips

Daylilies are most commonly propagated by division rather than seed; cultivar seeds do not come true. Transplant bare-root or potted divisions in early spring or fall, setting crowns no more than 1 inch below soil level. If starting from seed (species types only), start indoors 8–10 weeks before last frost. Established plants are extremely drought-tolerant; moderate water during bloom period improves flower quality. Divide crowded clumps every 3–5 years in early spring or fall to maintain vigor. In warm zones (8+), some cultivars are evergreen; in cold zones, foliage dies back each fall. Year 2+ plants bloom most heavily — first-year transplants may produce limited flowers.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Daylily in Craig County, VA?

Craig County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 26. Plan your Daylily planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Craig County, VA?

Craig County, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 26 and first fall frost is October 19.

🌱

Your Craig County Garden Planner — Free

A 22-page printable planner built for Craig County (Zone 7a). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Craig County, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: June 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.