Planting Zone 7a
Min winter temp 0 to 5°F · last frost ~April · first frost ~October
In Zone 7a, the average last spring frost is around April and the first fall frost around October, about a 198-day growing season. Start tender crops indoors before the last frost and move them out once it passes.
Zone 7a planting schedule and calendar
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Peppers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cucumbers | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Lettuce | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Zucchini | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Carrots | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beans (bush) | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Peas | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Broccoli | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Spinach | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Kale | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Onions | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Garlic | ||||||||||||
| Potatoes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Squash (winter) | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Corn | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Radishes | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Beets | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Eggplant | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Basil | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Cilantro | ● | ● | ||||||||||
| Parsley | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Pumpkins | ● | ● | ● | |||||||||
| Sunflowers | ● | ● |
What to plant this fall in Zone 7a
Fall planting in Zone 7a is arithmetic, not guesswork. The average first frost lands around October 25, so a crop needs its days to maturity, plus about two weeks for the slower growth of shortening days, to fit before then. Hardy crops get some of that back because they keep going past a light frost.
| Crop | Sow by | Fall harvest | Days to harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Radishes | Oct 4 | Nov 1 | ~28 |
| Cilantro | Sep 10 | Oct 25 | ~45 |
| Kale | Sep 9 | Nov 8 | ~60 |
| Beets | Sep 7 | Nov 1 | ~55 |
| Lettuce | Sep 5 | Oct 25 | ~50 |
| Carrots | Aug 30 | Nov 8 | ~70 |
| Broccoli | Aug 28 | Nov 1 | ~65 |
| Peas | Aug 26 | Oct 25 | ~60 |
| Zucchini | Aug 3 | Sep 27 | ~55 |
| Beans (bush) | Aug 3 | Sep 27 | ~55 |
| Cucumbers | Jul 29 | Sep 27 | ~60 |
| Potatoes | Jul 23 | Oct 21 | ~90 |
| Tomatoes | Jul 14 | Sep 27 | ~75 |
| Peppers | Jul 9 | Sep 27 | ~80 |
| Eggplant | Jul 4 | Sep 27 | ~85 |
Planted in fall to stand through a Zone 7a winter: garlic (Oct 25 to Nov 22) , onions (Sep 13 to Oct 4) , spinach (Sep 13 to Sep 27) , parsley (Sep 13 to Sep 27) .
More on the method: the fall planting calendar by zone, when to plant garlic and how to stretch your first frost date.
When to plant popular crops in Zone 7a
Tomatoes
~75 days
When to plant
Peppers
~80 days
When to plant
Cucumbers
~60 days
When to plant
Lettuce
~50 days
When to plantSeasonal reading for Zone 7a
- What to plant in October by zone
The October sowing and planting list for Zone 7a.
- What to plant in November by zone
What still goes in the ground in November in Zone 7a.
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How many weeks a cold frame adds to the Zone 7a season, and what to grow in it.
- October garden checklist
The jobs to finish before the first hard freeze in Zone 7a.
- Winter sowing guide
Winter sowing dates for Zone 7a.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor seed-starting dates counted from the Zone 7a last frost.
- What changed in the 2023 USDA zone map
Whether the 2023 USDA map moved Zone 7a, and what that changes.
- Companion planting chart
Which crops to plant together once you know your dates.
Nearby zones
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Zone 7a?
On average, the last spring frost in Zone 7a is around April; the first fall frost is around October.
What can I grow in Zone 7a?
Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 7a; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 7a frost dates.
What can I plant in the fall in Zone 7a?
radishes (sow by Oct 4), cilantro (sow by Sep 10), kale (sow by Sep 9), beets (sow by Sep 7), lettuce (sow by Sep 5), carrots (sow by Aug 30). Each date is counted back from the Zone 7a average first frost around October 25.
How long is the growing season in Zone 7a?
About 198 days between the average last spring and first fall frost.