Zone 7a planting schedule
Zone 7a covers places where the coldest night of an average winter falls between 0 to 5 °F. Here is what that means for frost dates and planting, month by month.
- Average winter low
- 0 to 5 °F
- Typical first frost
- Oct 27
- Last frost, most towns
- Apr 8 to Apr 20
- Frost-free season
- about 195 days
Middle values among the 342 towns of 10,000 people or more in zone 7a (our calculation, NOAA 1991-2020).
Where zone 7a is
Zone 7a towns are most common in New Jersey, Ohio, Utah, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Missouri, Virginia and Connecticut. Its biggest cities include Boston, MA; Louisville, KY; Wichita, KS; Cleveland, OH; Lexington, KY. Because a zone is set only by winter cold, towns in it can have quite different springs: the middle half of them have their last frost between Apr 8 and Apr 20. Use your own town's dates when you can.
| City | Last frost | First frost | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| Boston, MA | Apr 4 | Nov 9 | 218 d |
| Louisville, KY | Apr 3 | Nov 3 | 214 d |
| Wichita, KS | Apr 11 | Oct 29 | 199 d |
| Cleveland, OH | Apr 8 | Nov 12 | 217 d |
| Lexington, KY | Apr 13 | Oct 28 | 196 d |
| Cincinnati, OH | Apr 16 | Oct 25 | 190 d |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Apr 18 | Oct 28 | 193 d |
| St. Louis, MO | Apr 1 | Nov 4 | 218 d |
| Spokane, WA | Apr 26 | Oct 15 | 170 d |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Apr 8 | Oct 31 | 204 d |
| Amarillo, TX | Apr 13 | Oct 27 | 195 d |
| Providence, RI | Apr 11 | Oct 30 | 199 d |
Zone 7a planting calendar, month by month
Counted from the zone's typical frost dates. March is the busiest month for planting outside, with 30 crops going in. Each crop name links to its own page with the dates for your exact town.
| Month | Start indoors | Plant or sow outside | First harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Kale, Cabbage, Celery, Parsley | ||
| February | Marigolds, Herbs, Tomatoes, Peppers, Broccoli, Lettuce, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard, Eggplant, Basil | Roses, Fruit Trees, Apple Trees, Cherry Trees, Onions, Peas, Radishes, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Bok Choy | |
| March | Zinnias, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Okra | Strawberries, Wildflowers, Blueberries, Raspberries, Asparagus, Rhubarb, Dahlias, Gladiolus, Lilies, Hostas, Herbs, Trees, Hydrangeas, Potatoes, Onions, Broccoli, Lettuce, Carrots, Beets, Kale, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Turnips, Leeks, Celery, Dill, Parsley | Radishes |
| April | Sunflowers, Summer Bulbs, Zinnias, Marigolds, Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, Sweet Corn, Green Beans, Eggplant, Okra, Sweet Potatoes, Basil | Peas, Beets, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Bok Choy, Turnips | |
| May | Potatoes, Broccoli, Lettuce, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Green Beans, Carrots, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Swiss Chard, Basil | ||
| June | Tomatoes, Peppers, Onions, Cucumbers, Cantaloupe, Sweet Corn, Brussels Sprouts, Leeks, Eggplant, Okra | ||
| July | Irises, Cucumbers, Green Beans, Carrots, Cauliflower, Brussels Sprouts | Winter Squash, Pumpkins, Watermelon, Sweet Potatoes | |
| August | Hostas, Herbs, Peas, Broccoli, Lettuce, Zucchini (Summer Squash), Radishes, Beets, Kale, Cabbage, Collard Greens, Swiss Chard, Bok Choy, Arugula, Turnips | ||
| September | Strawberries, Daffodils, Wildflowers, Tulips, Blueberries, Lilies, Peonies, Hyacinths, Crocus, Ornamental Alliums, Trees, Hydrangeas, Garlic, Spinach, Shallots | ||
| October | Rhubarb, Fruit Trees, Apple Trees, Crape Myrtles | ||
| November | |||
| December | Onions, Leeks |
Fall plantings are listed with the month they go in. Ranges for each crop are on its page.
What grows well in zone 7a
A season of about 195 days fits nearly every garden crop. Cool-season crops get a spring and a fall planting; warm-season crops such as tomatoes, peppers, squash and beans have a long, steady summer.
Zone and frost dates: our own calculation from NOAA NCEI records (Global Summary of the Year, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020); not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Crop timing: university extension guides, listed on each crop page.