One of the first steps you take when you are getting a good idea your gardening schedule is find your USDA Zone info. The most important data that the zone info tells us is average last frost and the lowest expected temperature for your area.

The first chance to plant radicchio in Virginia should be determined by checking out the USDA zone info.

Planting Calendar for Radicchio

Frost tolerance for radicchio:	Tolerant of some frost.
When to plant:	Up to 5 weeks before last frost.

Radicchio can survive in mild cold which tells us that you can plant them a little bit earlier in the year than other plants that might not handle the cold.

The earliest that you can plant radicchio in Virginia is March. However, you really should wait until April if you don't want to take any chances.

The last month that you can plant radicchio and expect a good harvest is probably August. Any later than that and your radicchio may not have a chance to fully mature. You can get started a couple of weeks earlier by starting your radicchio indoors.

Last Frost Date

In Virginia the average date of last frost happens on May 15. In the coldest months of winter you should expect an average low temperature of -35°F.

Always keep in mind that the actual date of last frost is just an average because it is based on the USDA zone info for Virginia and it changes from year to year. Since half of the time in Virginia you get a frost after May 15 be ready to cover your radicchio if you have a surprise late frost.

USDA Zone Info for Virginia

Here is the info for USDA Zone 3b.

Average Date of Last Frost (spring)	May 15
Average Date of First Frost (fall)	September 15
Lowest Expected Low	-35°F
Highest Expected Low	-30°F

This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is -35°F. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near -30°F.

Plants to Grow in Virginia

You may be interested in your other planting guides for Virginia.