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When to Plant Tomatoes in Dickenson County, VA

Tomatoes are the most popular home garden crop, available in thousands of varieties from tiny cherries to massive beefsteaks. They are warm-season plants needing full sun.

Dickenson County, Virginia is in USDA Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and the first fall frost is October 19, giving you a growing season of approximately 187 days.

At an elevation of 1,553 feet, Dickenson County receives approximately 49.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 90ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tomatoes during the growing season.

Dickenson County, VA (Zone 6b) Moderate season
187 days
Last Spring Frost April 15
187 growing days
First Fall Frost October 19

Dickenson County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-7.1

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (42 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 13 Transplant: Apr 24 🍅 Harvest: Jun 26 – Sep 4
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (40 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 18 Transplant: Apr 29 🍅 Harvest: Jul 1 – Sep 9
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (35 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 9 Transplant: May 18 🍅 Harvest: Jul 20 – Sep 28

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.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
1.1″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft
Tomatoes needs ~1,269 GDD — county provides 3,272 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Dickenson County, VA

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 18 Feb 18 โ€“ Mar 4
Transplant Outdoors April 29 Apr 29 โ€“ May 13
Direct Sow April 22 Apr 22 โ€“ May 13
Harvest July 1 Jul 1 โ€“ Sep 9

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 24" apart ยท Rows 36" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March Start Indoors
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
June โ€”
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October โ€”
November โ€”
December โ€”

Growing Conditions

Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

Water

Moderate โ€” regular watering

Days to Maturity

60โ€“85 days

Soil pH

6 โ€“ 7

USDA Zone

Zone 6b

Growing Season

187 days

Growing Tips for Dickenson County

Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost. Bury transplants deep to encourage rooting along the stem. Provide consistent moisture to prevent blossom end rot and cracking.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Avoid Planting Near

  • Cabbage
  • Fennel
  • Potatoes

Level Up Your Garden

๐ŸŒพ Save Your Own Tomatoes Seeds
Life Cycle Annual
Pollination Self-Pollinating
How to Collect Scoop seeds from ripe fruit; ferment 2-3 days to remove gel coating.
Storage Store airtight; viable 4-6 years at 35ยฐF, under 45% humidity.

Isolate 25 ft between varieties for purity. Use open-pollinated varieties for true-to-type seeds.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Tomatoes in Dickenson County, VA?

Dickenson County is in Zone 6b with an average last frost of April 15. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Dickenson County, VA?

Dickenson County, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 6b. The average last spring frost is April 15 and first fall frost is October 19.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Dickenson County gardeners in Zone 6b organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

Get Your Free Garden Planner →

Free download. Plan your entire garden season in minutes.

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