The early European settlers in Virginia expected to be able to grow citrus fruits and silkworms, based on the latitude of Virginia being equivalent to Spain and Italy. Today, we know what to plant, and when to plant and harvest, as described in the Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates for U.S. Field Crops, National Agricultural Statistics Service Agricultural Handbook Number 628 (December 1997):
| Virginia: Usual Planting and Harvesting Dates, by Crop | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crop |
1996 Harvested Acres (000) |
Usual Planting Dates | Usual Harvesting Dates | ||||
| Begin | Most Active | End | Begin | Most Active | End | ||
|
Barley, Fall Corn, for Grain Corn, for Silage Cotton Hay, Alfalfa Hay, Other Peanuts Rye Soybeans Tobacco, Type 11 Tobacco, Type 21 Tobacco, Type 31 Tobacco, Type 37 Wheat, Winter |
75
310 130 102 130 1,150 76 10 480 37 .7 1 .1 9 .5 .1 275 |
Sep 10 Apr 5 Apr 5 Apr 10 � � Apr 20 Aug 20 Apr 30 Apr 30 May 5 May 10 May 10 Sep 25 |
Oct 5 - Oct 30 Apr 20 - May 20 Apr 20 - May 25 Apr 20 - May 10 � � May 5 - May 20 Aug 25 - Nov 20 May 20 - Jun 30 May 5 - May 20 May 15 - May 30 May 20 - Jun 5 May 15 - May 30 Oct 20 - Nov 15 |
Nov 25 Jun 5 Jun 10 May 20 � � May 25 Nov 30 Jul 10 May 30 Jun 10 Jun 25 Jun 10 Nov 30 |
May 30 Aug 25 Aug 5 Sep 30 May 1 May 25 Sep 15 Jun 5 Oct 5 Jul 15 Aug 5 Aug 25 Aug 10 Jun 5 |
Jun 10 - Jun 25 Sep 5 - Oct 25 Aug 30 - Oct 1 Oct 25 - Nov 25 � � Oct 5 - Oct 25 Jun 10 - Jun 25 Oct 25 - Nov 25 Aug 15 - Sep 20 Aug 20 - Sep 10 Sep 5 - Sep 25 Aug 20 - Sep 15 Jun 20 - Jul 15 |
Jul 15 Nov 20 Oct 20 Dec 10 Oct 20 Oct 1 Nov 5 Jul 5 Dec 10 Oct 10 Sep 25 Oct 5 Sep 30 Jul 25 |
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map shows the lowest temperatures that can be expected each year in Virginia - see the details of the zones in Virginia.