Planting Zone 7b
Min winter temp 5 to 10°F · last frost ~April · first frost ~November
In Zone 7b, the average last spring frost is around April and the first fall frost around November, about a 212-day growing season. Start tender crops indoors before the last frost and move them out once it passes.
Zone 7b 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 7b
Fall planting in Zone 7b is arithmetic, not guesswork. The average first frost lands around November 1, 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 11 | Nov 8 | ~28 |
| Cilantro | Sep 17 | Nov 1 | ~45 |
| Kale | Sep 16 | Nov 15 | ~60 |
| Beets | Sep 14 | Nov 8 | ~55 |
| Lettuce | Sep 12 | Nov 1 | ~50 |
| Carrots | Sep 6 | Nov 15 | ~70 |
| Broccoli | Sep 4 | Nov 8 | ~65 |
| Peas | Sep 2 | Nov 1 | ~60 |
| Zucchini | Aug 10 | Oct 4 | ~55 |
| Beans (bush) | Aug 10 | Oct 4 | ~55 |
| Cucumbers | Aug 5 | Oct 4 | ~60 |
| Potatoes | Jul 30 | Oct 28 | ~90 |
| Tomatoes | Jul 21 | Oct 4 | ~75 |
| Peppers | Jul 16 | Oct 4 | ~80 |
| Eggplant | Jul 11 | Oct 4 | ~85 |
Planted in fall to stand through a Zone 7b winter: garlic (Nov 1 to Nov 29) , onions (Sep 20 to Oct 11) , spinach (Sep 20 to Oct 4) , parsley (Sep 20 to Oct 4) .
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 7b
Tomatoes
~75 days
When to plant
Peppers
~80 days
When to plant
Cucumbers
~60 days
When to plant
Lettuce
~50 days
When to plantCities in Zone 7b, with their own local frost dates: New York, NY frost dates , Philadelphia, PA frost dates .
Seasonal reading for Zone 7b
- What to plant in October by zone
The October sowing and planting list for Zone 7b.
- What to plant in November by zone
What still goes in the ground in November in Zone 7b.
- Cold frame gardening by zone
How many weeks a cold frame adds to the Zone 7b season, and what to grow in it.
- October garden checklist
The jobs to finish before the first hard freeze in Zone 7b.
- Winter sowing guide
Winter sowing dates for Zone 7b.
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor seed-starting dates counted from the Zone 7b last frost.
- What changed in the 2023 USDA zone map
Whether the 2023 USDA map moved Zone 7b, 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 7b?
On average, the last spring frost in Zone 7b is around April; the first fall frost is around November.
What can I grow in Zone 7b?
Nearly all common vegetables and herbs grow in Zone 7b; the difference is timing. Use the planting calendar above, calculated from Zone 7b frost dates.
What can I plant in the fall in Zone 7b?
radishes (sow by Oct 11), cilantro (sow by Sep 17), kale (sow by Sep 16), beets (sow by Sep 14), lettuce (sow by Sep 12), carrots (sow by Sep 6). Each date is counted back from the Zone 7b average first frost around November 1.
How long is the growing season in Zone 7b?
About 212 days between the average last spring and first fall frost.