I'm in VB also and have 2 raised 4x4 beds plus a regular bed. This is my 3rd season here and I'm learning to have patience and wait till mid to late April to put my heat loving veges (tomatos, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, zukes) in. My lettuce is up (from seed) and hardening (ones I grew from seed). I do have clear plastic over a 2x2 section of one bed because I'll put an Early Girl tomato there (April 1st) with a milk carton around it on cold days/nights 'cause I just can't wait for those first tomatoes!
(my sugar snaps are all up but they're not in my raised beds)
What are you putting in your beds?

Hello VAB. Last year I was too early and many of my plants were stunted. I am waiting for the 3rd - 4th week in April to put plants in the ground.

I am doing the traditional tomatoes, peppers, squashes, and herbs...

Another Beacher here,
We've put in lettuce, tomatoes, green beans from seed, radishes, cukes, and peppers - bell and hot both.
Lettuce, beans, radish have been in about 2 weeks, others just this past week. Really want to get veggies going but experience tells me to wait until last week in April or like Highcenter, things just sit there and do nothing.
Linda

If this comes thru twice, sorry; it just disappeared. New to in-ground, raised planter veggie gardens; still new to V.B. also; have been using containers and hanging planters for all veggies; going to go into the slightly raised bed this year, except for tomatoes; I'll leave them as is. How does lettuce do here - too hot? And any tips appreciated on what does well here and when and how to plant the usual salad type veggies in ground.
Thanks.

I live near Fredericksburg, and we put in green onions, radishes, cauliflower, lettuce, and swiss chard 2.5 weeks ago. I put in peas this week because the forsythia bloomed. Next is carrots for me.

I have very good luck here with Rouge D'Hiver lettuce. As long as you get the lettuce in early enough you can enjoy it until the end of May. You can replant again in August for fall lettuce, too.

I am also in Hampton Roads (chesapeake) and I have a question regarding some of the responses so far...sorry to be a dummy, this is my first year!

I currently have tomatoes, peppers and onions growing from seed indoors (the packets all say to start indoors so that's what I'm doing). The rest of what I plan to grow say to start from seed outdoors 6-8 weeks before last frost.

So, when you all are saying that you wait until mid to late April to start outdoors... Are you saying that you are starting from seed at that time or that you are transplanting your already started plants?

So, I guess another question is when is our 'last frost' date?

Nina Lee;
When We all say mid/late April we usually mean transplanting our already started plants. The exact date depends on when we feel they will be safe from frost. But I'm an extremist so I started my tomato and pepper seeds in mid January although I usually start them in mid/late February. I'm in Franklin County (Smith Mountain Lake) Hardiness zone 7a. My average last frost date is 4/15 or 4/20 depending on who you ask. I was looking at last Wednesday to plant out (3/24), but a last minute check of the ten day forecast revealed Friday night's frost. I Put them in yesterday 3/29. This is pushing the envelope. The ground is usually soaked till early May. This year I got smart and covered my raised beds with plastic in late February. I am also using a homemade tunnel row cover (welding rods and an old breathable car cover) which should give maybe 1-2 degrees of frost protection, allow a decent amount of light through and offer some wind protection (my plants have not been hardened off). I also have extra seedlings if all else fails. If your not sure of yourself, you can just wait until the local wallmart puts their plants on the shelves. They rarely put them out for sale before any remote possibility of another frost. Good Luck.
~Ken~