Zone 7a planting calendar
Mild winters and a long season; fall gardening is very productive here.
Coldest temps0 to 5°F
Avg. last spring frostApr 7
Avg. first fall frostNov 2
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 7a →
The growing season in Zone 7a
Zone 7a has a coldest-winter range of 0 to 5°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 209 days — from the last spring frost around Apr 7 to the first fall frost around Nov 2. That is a long season — you can grow nearly anything, run several succession sowings, and often fit two or even three plantings of quick crops.
The practical rhythm here is simple. Cool-season crops — peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, and the brassicas — can go out around the last-frost date and again for a fall crop. Frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, squash, and basil wait until after Apr 7, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 209-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 7a
Every crop below is timed to Zone 7a's frost dates. Follow a crop link for its full growing profile across all zones, or open the interactive calendar for the month-by-month view.
| Crop | When to plant |
|---|---|
| Tomato | Start seeds indoors Feb 17–Mar 3 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 21 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Feb 3–Feb 17 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–Apr 28 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 21 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Mar 17–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 24–Sep 7 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–May 5 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Mar 17–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 28 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Feb 24–Mar 24 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 28 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Sep 7 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Feb 24–Mar 17 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Mar 17–Apr 14 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 28 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Feb 17–Mar 3 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Jul 27–Aug 17 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Feb 17–Mar 3 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Mar 31–Apr 14 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Jan 27–Feb 10 Transplant outdoors Mar 10–Mar 24 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Oct 5–Oct 19 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Aug 24–Sep 7 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Oct 5 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 28 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–Apr 28 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 28 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 28 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Oct 5 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Jan 27–Feb 10 Transplant outdoors Mar 10–Mar 24 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 21 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 21 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Direct sow outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Jan 27–Feb 10 Transplant outdoors Mar 31–Apr 14 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Aug 10–Sep 7 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 28 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Mar 17–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 28 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Aug 24–Sep 7 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Mar 10–Mar 24 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 21 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Jan 27–Feb 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–May 5 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Jan 27–Feb 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 10–Mar 24 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–Apr 28 Direct sow outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 21–Apr 28 Direct sow outdoors Apr 14–Apr 28 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Feb 17–Mar 3 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 21 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 10–Mar 24 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 3–Mar 17 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 3–Mar 17 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Mar 3–Mar 17 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Feb 24–Mar 17 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 24–Mar 17 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 28 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Feb 24–Mar 17 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Feb 10–Feb 24 Transplant outdoors Mar 24–Apr 7 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Jan 27–Feb 10 Transplant outdoors Mar 10–Mar 24 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Mar 10–Mar 24 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 21 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 21 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Feb 24–Mar 24 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Mar 10–Mar 31 Direct sow outdoors Sep 7–Sep 21 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Feb 24–Mar 10 Transplant outdoors Apr 14–Apr 21 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Mar 24–Apr 21 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Apr 7–Apr 21 |