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When to Plant Tomatoes in Nottoway 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.

Nottoway County, Virginia is in USDA Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and the first fall frost is November 3, giving you a growing season of approximately 215 days.

At an elevation of 1,054 feet, Nottoway County receives approximately 45.7 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91ยฐF, providing good warmth for Tomatoes during the growing season.

Nottoway County, VA (Zone 7a) Long season
215 days
Last Spring Frost April 2
215 growing days
First Fall Frost November 3

Nottoway County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.6-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (72 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 3 Transplant: Apr 7 🍅 Harvest: Jun 9 – Aug 18
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (68 days to spare)
Start indoors: Feb 12 Transplant: Apr 16 🍅 Harvest: Jun 18 – Aug 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (64 days to spare)
Start indoors: Mar 2 Transplant: May 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 6 – Sep 14

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
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 205 gal / 100 sq ft
Tomatoes needs ~1,323 GDD — county provides 3,923 GDD Excellent fit

Tomatoes Planting Timeline โ€” Nottoway County, VA

Tomatoes Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors February 12 Feb 12 โ€“ Feb 26
Transplant Outdoors April 16 Apr 16 โ€“ Apr 30
Direct Sow April 9 Apr 9 โ€“ Apr 30
Harvest June 18 Jun 18 โ€“ Aug 27

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

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January โ€”
February Start Indoors
March โ€”
April Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow
May โ€”
June Harvest
July Harvest
August Harvest
September โ€”
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 7a

Growing Season

215 days

Growing Tips for Nottoway 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 Nottoway County, VA?

Nottoway County is in Zone 7a with an average last frost of April 2. Plan your Tomatoes planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Nottoway County, VA?

Nottoway County, Virginia is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7a. The average last spring frost is April 2 and first fall frost is November 3.

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Nottoway County gardeners in Zone 7a 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 Nottoway County, VA. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.