Zone 7b planting calendar
Long growing season with mild winters; double-cropping is easy.
Coldest temps5 to 10°F
Avg. last spring frostApr 1
Avg. first fall frostNov 10
Open the interactive calendar for Zone 7b →
The growing season in Zone 7b
Zone 7b has a coldest-winter range of 5 to 10°F and an average frost-free growing season of roughly 223 days — from the last spring frost around Apr 1 to the first fall frost around Nov 10. 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 1, and the longer-season ones among them (melons, winter squash, full-size tomatoes) are the plants to watch against the 223-day window. Start those indoors on the schedule below so they have time to finish before fall frost returns.
What to plant in Zone 7b
Every crop below is timed to Zone 7b'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 11–Feb 25 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 15 |
| Pepper | Start seeds indoors Jan 28–Feb 11 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 22 |
| Lettuce | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Sep 29 |
| Carrot | Direct sow outdoors Mar 11–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 1–Sep 15 |
| Bush Bean | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 29 |
| Cucumber | Start seeds indoors Mar 11–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Zucchini | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 22 |
| Spinach | Direct sow outdoors Feb 18–Mar 18 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Oct 6 |
| Kale | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Aug 18–Sep 15 |
| Pea | Direct sow outdoors Feb 18–Mar 11 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Cilantro | Direct sow outdoors Mar 11–Apr 8 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Oct 6 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors Feb 11–Feb 25 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Aug 4–Aug 25 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Cauliflower | Start seeds indoors Feb 11–Feb 25 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Brussels Sprouts | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 25–Apr 8 |
| Onion | Start seeds indoors Jan 21–Feb 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 4–Mar 18 |
| Garlic | Direct sow outdoors Oct 13–Oct 27 |
| Beet | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 1–Sep 15 |
| Radish | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Oct 13 |
| Swiss Chard | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 |
| Potato | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 |
| Sweet Corn | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 22 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 22 |
| Pumpkin | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 22 |
| Winter Squash | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 22 |
| Arugula | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Oct 13 |
| Leek | Start seeds indoors Jan 21–Feb 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 4–Mar 18 |
| Turnip | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Sep 29 |
| Kohlrabi | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Sep 29 |
| Okra | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Direct sow outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Celery | Start seeds indoors Jan 21–Feb 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 25–Apr 8 |
| Collard Greens | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Aug 18–Sep 15 |
| Mustard Greens | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Oct 6 |
| Bok Choy | Direct sow outdoors Mar 11–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Oct 6 |
| Fennel | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 1–Sep 15 |
| Sweet Potato | Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Parsnip | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 |
| Asparagus | Transplant outdoors Mar 4–Mar 18 |
| Parsley | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 |
| Dill | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Sep 29 |
| Chives | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Thyme | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Oregano | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Sage | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Rosemary | Start seeds indoors Jan 21–Feb 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 29 |
| Mint | Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Lavender | Start seeds indoors Jan 21–Feb 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Chamomile | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 |
| Lemon Balm | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Tarragon | Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Strawberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 4–Mar 18 |
| Watermelon | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 22 Direct sow outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Cantaloupe | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 15–Apr 22 Direct sow outdoors Apr 8–Apr 22 |
| Ground Cherry | Start seeds indoors Feb 11–Feb 25 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 15 |
| Blueberry | Transplant outdoors Mar 4–Mar 18 |
| Raspberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 25–Mar 11 |
| Blackberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 25–Mar 11 |
| Rhubarb | Transplant outdoors Feb 25–Mar 11 |
| Currant | Transplant outdoors Feb 18–Mar 11 |
| Gooseberry | Transplant outdoors Feb 18–Mar 11 |
| Marigold | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Zinnia | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Sunflower | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 22 |
| Cosmos | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Nasturtium | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Sweet Pea | Direct sow outdoors Feb 18–Mar 11 |
| Snapdragon | Start seeds indoors Feb 4–Feb 18 Transplant outdoors Mar 18–Apr 1 |
| Pansy | Start seeds indoors Jan 21–Feb 4 Transplant outdoors Mar 4–Mar 18 |
| Dahlia | Start seeds indoors Mar 4–Mar 18 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 15 |
| Calendula | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Sep 29 |
| Poppy | Direct sow outdoors Feb 18–Mar 18 |
| Cornflower | Direct sow outdoors Mar 4–Mar 25 Direct sow outdoors Sep 15–Sep 29 |
| Aster | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |
| Celosia | Start seeds indoors Feb 18–Mar 4 Transplant outdoors Apr 8–Apr 15 |
| Sweet Alyssum | Direct sow outdoors Mar 18–Apr 15 |
| Morning Glory | Direct sow outdoors Apr 1–Apr 15 |