Zone 7a planting calendar
In zone 7a the last spring frost usually comes around April 16 and the first fall frost around October 25: about 191 frost-free days. Here is what to do each month.
Typical frost dates
- Last spring frost
- April 16 Middle half of the zone: Apr 9 – Apr 23. Over by May 3 in 9 of 10 years.
- First fall frost
- October 25 Middle half of the zone: Oct 21 – Oct 30. After Oct 11 in 9 of 10 years.
- Frost-free season
- about 191 days
- Coldest winter nights
- 0 to 5 °F
- ZIP codes in the zone
- 4,856
Most of its weather stations are in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Virginia, Missouri, New Mexico and Pennsylvania and 24 more.
Places in zone 7a
Zones measure winter cold, so frost dates still vary from place to place. A few weather stations across the zone:
| Place | State | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yakima | Washington | Apr 8 | Oct 23 | 196 |
| Moab | Utah | Apr 11 | Oct 23 | 192 |
| Anderson | Missouri | Apr 15 | Oct 23 | 191 |
| Hammon | Oklahoma | Apr 16 | Oct 23 | 191 |
| Crozier | Virginia | Apr 17 | Oct 27 | 191 |
| Bloserville | Pennsylvania | Apr 18 | Oct 26 | 191 |
| Fort Sumner | New Mexico | Apr 18 | Oct 26 | 190 |
| Skyline | Kentucky | Apr 18 | Oct 28 | 191 |
Month by month in zone 7a
Every job for all 60 crops, in the month it starts.
January
February
Start indoors
- Peppers Feb 5–19
- Hot peppers Feb 5–19
- Eggplant Feb 5–19
- Onions Feb 5–19
- Parsley Feb 5–19
- Tomatoes Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Tomatillos Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Cabbage Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Broccoli Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Cauliflower Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Chives Feb 19 – Mar 5
March
Sow outside
- Peas Mar 5–26
- Spinach Mar 5 – Apr 2
- Kale Mar 5 – Apr 2
- Arugula Mar 12 – Apr 9
- Radishes Mar 12 – Apr 23
- Shallots (shallot sets) Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Collard greens Mar 19 – Apr 9
- Kohlrabi Mar 19 – Apr 9
- Turnips Mar 19 – Apr 9
- Asparagus (asparagus crowns) Mar 19 – Apr 9
- Rhubarb (rhubarb crowns) Mar 19 – Apr 9
- Mustard greens Mar 19 – Apr 16
- Potatoes (seed potatoes) Mar 19 – Apr 16
- Lettuce Mar 19 – Apr 30
- Green onions Mar 19 – Apr 30
- Bok choy Mar 26 – Apr 16
- Parsnips Mar 26 – Apr 23
- Carrots Mar 26 – Apr 30
- Beets Mar 26 – Apr 30
April
Sow outside
- Cilantro Apr 2–30
- Swiss chard Apr 2 – May 7
- Dill Apr 9 – May 7
- Sunflowers Apr 16 – May 14
- Zucchini Apr 23 – May 7
- Zinnias Apr 23 – May 7
- Nasturtiums Apr 23 – May 7
- Cosmos Apr 23 – May 7
- Cucumbers Apr 23 – May 14
- Winter squash Apr 23 – May 14
- Pumpkins Apr 23 – May 14
- Green beans Apr 23 – May 14
- Sweet corn Apr 23 – May 14
- Watermelons Apr 30 – May 14
- Cantaloupes Apr 30 – May 14
- Okra Apr 30 – May 21
Plant out
- Cauliflower Apr 2–16
- Parsley Apr 2–30
- Thyme Apr 2–30
- Mint Apr 2–30
- Oregano Apr 9–30
- Sage Apr 9–30
- Rosemary Apr 16 – May 7
- Lavender Apr 16 – May 7
- Tomatoes Apr 23 – May 7
- Tomatillos Apr 23 – May 7
- Celery Apr 23 – May 7
- Marigolds Apr 23 – May 7
- Peppers Apr 30 – May 14
- Hot peppers Apr 30 – May 14
- Eggplant Apr 30 – May 14
- Basil Apr 30 – May 14
May
Plant out
- Sweet potatoes (sweet potato slips) May 7–28
Sow for fall
- Brussels sprouts May 31 – Jun 21
Start picking
- Mint May 2 – Oct 17
- Kohlrabi May 3 – Jun 8
- Bok choy May 5 – Jun 10
- Collard greens May 13 – Sep 2
- Strawberries May 14 – Jun 11
- Beets May 15 – Jun 29
- Cilantro May 17 – Jul 9
- Parsley May 17 – Nov 1
- Thyme May 17 – Nov 1
- Cabbage May 18 – Jul 1
- Green onions May 18 – Jul 14
- Dill May 19 – Jul 14
- Broccoli May 20 – Jul 5
- Swiss chard May 22 – Nov 6
- Marigolds (in bloom) May 23 – Oct 10
- Oregano May 24 – Oct 11
- Carrots May 25 – Jul 19
- Cauliflower May 27 – Jul 5
- Basil May 30 – Oct 3
June
Sow for fall
- Cabbage Jun 28 – Jul 26
Start picking
- Potatoes Jun 2 – Aug 14
- Zucchini Jun 7 – Aug 16
- Nasturtiums (in bloom) Jun 7 – Sep 27
- Sage Jun 8 – Nov 9
- Green beans Jun 12 – Jul 24
- Cucumbers Jun 12 – Aug 7
- Lavender Jun 15 – Aug 10
- Rosemary Jun 15 – Nov 8
- Shallots Jun 17 – Jul 21
- Onions Jun 17 – Jul 31
- Garlic Jun 18 – Jul 9
- Okra Jun 19 – Sep 25
- Tomatoes Jun 22 – Oct 12
- Zinnias (in bloom) Jun 22 – Oct 12
- Cosmos (in bloom) Jun 22 – Oct 12
- Leeks Jun 24 – Nov 11
- Sunflowers (in bloom) Jun 25 – Aug 22
- Sweet corn Jun 27 – Aug 12
- Tomatillos Jun 27 – Sep 5
- Peppers Jun 29 – Oct 5
July
Sow for fall
- Cauliflower Jul 5–26
- Broccoli Jul 5 – Aug 2
- Cucumbers Jul 26 – Aug 9
- Green beans Jul 26 – Aug 9
Start picking
- Eggplant Jul 4 – Sep 26
- Cantaloupes Jul 9 – Aug 13
- Watermelons Jul 9 – Aug 22
- Hot peppers Jul 9 – Oct 15
- Winter squash Jul 12 – Oct 4
- Celery Jul 17 – Sep 11
- Pumpkins Jul 22 – Sep 30
August
Sow for fall
- Zucchini Aug 2–16
- Peas Aug 2–16
- Carrots Aug 2–23
- Beets Aug 2–23
- Kale Aug 2–30
- Collard greens Aug 2–30
- Green onions Aug 9–23
- Cilantro Aug 16–30
- Lettuce Aug 16 – Sep 6
- Kohlrabi Aug 16 – Sep 6
- Bok choy Aug 16 – Sep 6
- Spinach Aug 16 – Sep 13
- Turnips Aug 16 – Sep 13
- Arugula Aug 23 – Sep 20
- Mustard greens Aug 23 – Sep 20
Start picking
- Sweet potatoes Aug 5 – Sep 30
September
Sow for fall
- Radishes Sep 6–27
Start picking
- Cucumbers Sep 14 – Oct 25
- Green beans Sep 14 – Oct 25
- Zucchini Sep 16 – Oct 25
- Beets Sep 21 – Oct 26
- Arugula Sep 22 – Oct 30
- Mustard greens Sep 22 – Nov 4
- Cabbage Sep 24 – Nov 21
- Bok choy Sep 25 – Oct 31
- Spinach Sep 25 – Nov 2
- Lettuce Sep 25 – Nov 6
- Turnips Sep 25 – Nov 12
- Peas Sep 26 – Oct 25
- Cauliflower Sep 26 – Nov 8
- Broccoli Sep 26 – Nov 18
- Collard greens Sep 26 – Dec 6
- Brussels sprouts Sep 28 – Dec 6
- Kohlrabi Sep 30 – Nov 5
- Cilantro Sep 30 – Nov 8
October
Sow for fall
- Garlic (garlic cloves) Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start picking
- Radishes Oct 1–27
- Carrots Oct 1 – Nov 12
- Green onions Oct 8 – Nov 19
- Parsnips Oct 11 – Dec 6
November
Nothing to sow; clean and store the tools and note what grew well.
December
A month to rest the soil and plan next year.