Plant Tomatoes in Zone 7b
Seed-starting, transplant & harvest dates for USDA Zone 7b
Zone 7b averages 212 frost-free days, running from a last spring frost around April 3 to a first fall frost around November 1. Tomatoes needs roughly 75 days from planting out to first harvest, so it uses about 35 percent of that window. Tomatoes is a tender crop, which is what decides where in the window it belongs.
Because tomatoes needs a head start, sow seed indoors around Feb 13, about 7 weeks ahead of the Zone 7b last frost. Transplants go out around Apr 17. Starting earlier than that in Zone 7b usually backfires: plants outgrow their cells and stall when they finally hit cold soil. At 75 days to harvest, a 212-day Zone 7b season has room for about 2 sowings, so stagger them rather than planting everything at once.
Planting tomatoes for a fall harvest in Zone 7b
Yes. Sow tomatoes by July 21 in Zone 7b. That is 103 days before the average first frost, which covers the 75 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, plus a two week margin because frost kills tomatoes outright.
A second tomato crop only works where the first fall frost is late enough to finish it, which in practice means zone 9 and warmer.
Fall dates are counted backward from the Zone 7b average first frost, not forward from a sowing date. See the fall planting calendar by zone for the full method.
Spring vs fall tomatoes in Zone 7b
| Planting | Sow or start | In the ground | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring | Feb 13 | Apr 17 | Jul 1 |
| Fall | by Jul 21 | Jul 21 | Oct 4 |
Tomatoes in nearby zones
Further reading on tomatoes
- When to start seeds indoors by zone
Indoor start dates for tomatoes, counted back from your last frost.
- Hardening off seedlings: a schedule
A day by day plan for moving tomatoes seedlings outdoors.
- Best grow lights for seed starting
What light seedlings actually need, and which fixtures deliver it.
Other crops in Zone 7b
Frequently asked questions
When should I start tomatoes in Zone 7b?
Start tomatoes seeds indoors around Feb 13 (Zone 7b).
Can I direct sow tomatoes in Zone 7b?
Tomatoes is best started indoors and transplanted in Zone 7b rather than direct sown.
Can I plant tomatoes in the fall in Zone 7b?
Yes. Sow tomatoes by July 21 in Zone 7b. That is 103 days before the average first frost, which covers the 75 days to maturity plus about two weeks for the slower growth that comes with shortening days, plus a two week margin because frost kills tomatoes outright.
Will tomatoes survive frost in Zone 7b?
No. Tomatoes is a tender crop and a single light frost ends it, so every Zone 7b planting has to finish before the average first frost.
How many plantings of tomatoes fit in a Zone 7b season?
About 2. Zone 7b averages 212 frost-free days and tomatoes needs roughly 75 days plus a couple of weeks of turnaround, so sowing every 45 days keeps a supply coming.