Zone 7b planting calendar
In zone 7b the last spring frost usually comes around April 5 and the first fall frost around November 1: about 210 frost-free days. Here is what to do each month.
Typical frost dates
- Last spring frost
- April 5 Middle half of the zone: Apr 1 – Apr 11. Over by Apr 21 in 9 of 10 years.
- First fall frost
- November 1 Middle half of the zone: Oct 29 – Nov 7. After Oct 19 in 9 of 10 years.
- Frost-free season
- about 210 days
- Coldest winter nights
- 5 to 10 °F
- ZIP codes in the zone
- 3,840
Most of its weather stations are in Tennessee, Oklahoma, Virginia, North Carolina, New Mexico and Arkansas and 20 more.
Places in zone 7b
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bolivar Water Works | Tennessee | Apr 3 | Oct 30 | 210 |
| Acme | Oklahoma | Apr 4 | Oct 31 | 210 |
| Conchas | New Mexico | Apr 4 | Nov 2 | 210 |
| Hardy | Arkansas | Apr 4 | Oct 31 | 210 |
| Lubbock | Texas | Apr 4 | Nov 2 | 210 |
| Norfolk Rich | Virginia | Apr 6 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Waterville | North Carolina | Apr 6 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Vienna | Maryland | Apr 8 | Nov 4 | 209 |
Month by month in zone 7b
Every job for all 60 crops, in the month it starts.
January
February
Start indoors
- Tomatoes Feb 8–22
- Tomatillos Feb 8–22
- Cabbage Feb 8–22
- Broccoli Feb 8–22
- Cauliflower Feb 8–22
- Chives Feb 8–22
- Basil Feb 22 – Mar 8
- Marigolds Feb 22 – Mar 8
March
Sow outside
- Arugula Mar 1–29
- Radishes Mar 1 – Apr 12
- Shallots (shallot sets) Mar 8–22
- Collard greens Mar 8–29
- Kohlrabi Mar 8–29
- Turnips Mar 8–29
- Asparagus (asparagus crowns) Mar 8–29
- Rhubarb (rhubarb crowns) Mar 8–29
- Mustard greens Mar 8 – Apr 5
- Potatoes (seed potatoes) Mar 8 – Apr 5
- Lettuce Mar 8 – Apr 19
- Green onions Mar 8 – Apr 19
- Bok choy Mar 15 – Apr 5
- Parsnips Mar 15 – Apr 12
- Carrots Mar 15 – Apr 19
- Beets Mar 15 – Apr 19
- Cilantro Mar 22 – Apr 19
- Swiss chard Mar 22 – Apr 26
- Dill Mar 29 – Apr 26
Plant out
April
Sow outside
- Sunflowers Apr 5 – May 3
- Zucchini Apr 12–26
- Zinnias Apr 12–26
- Nasturtiums Apr 12–26
- Cosmos Apr 12–26
- Cucumbers Apr 12 – May 3
- Winter squash Apr 12 – May 3
- Pumpkins Apr 12 – May 3
- Green beans Apr 12 – May 3
- Sweet corn Apr 12 – May 3
- Watermelons Apr 19 – May 3
- Cantaloupes Apr 19 – May 3
- Okra Apr 19 – May 10
Plant out
- Rosemary Apr 5–26
- Lavender Apr 5–26
- Tomatoes Apr 12–26
- Tomatillos Apr 12–26
- Celery Apr 12–26
- Marigolds Apr 12–26
- Peppers Apr 19 – May 3
- Hot peppers Apr 19 – May 3
- Eggplant Apr 19 – May 3
- Basil Apr 19 – May 3
- Sweet potatoes (sweet potato slips) Apr 26 – May 17
May
Start picking
- Collard greens May 2 – Aug 22
- Strawberries May 3–31
- Beets May 4 – Jun 18
- Cilantro May 6 – Jun 28
- Parsley May 6 – Oct 21
- Thyme May 6 – Oct 21
- Cabbage May 7 – Jun 20
- Green onions May 7 – Jul 3
- Dill May 8 – Jul 3
- Broccoli May 9 – Jun 24
- Swiss chard May 11 – Oct 26
- Marigolds (in bloom) May 12 – Sep 29
- Oregano May 13 – Sep 30
- Carrots May 14 – Jul 8
- Cauliflower May 16 – Jun 24
- Basil May 19 – Sep 22
- Potatoes May 22 – Aug 3
- Zucchini May 27 – Aug 5
- Nasturtiums (in bloom) May 27 – Sep 16
- Sage May 28 – Oct 29
June
Sow for fall
- Brussels sprouts Jun 7–28
Start picking
- Green beans Jun 1 – Jul 13
- Cucumbers Jun 1 – Jul 27
- Lavender Jun 4 – Jul 30
- Rosemary Jun 4 – Nov 15
- Shallots Jun 6 – Jul 10
- Onions Jun 6 – Jul 20
- Garlic Jun 7–28
- Okra Jun 8 – Sep 14
- Tomatoes Jun 11 – Oct 1
- Zinnias (in bloom) Jun 11 – Oct 1
- Cosmos (in bloom) Jun 11 – Oct 1
- Leeks Jun 13 – Oct 31
- Sunflowers (in bloom) Jun 14 – Aug 11
- Sweet corn Jun 16 – Aug 1
- Tomatillos Jun 16 – Aug 25
- Peppers Jun 18 – Sep 24
- Eggplant Jun 23 – Sep 15
- Cantaloupes Jun 28 – Aug 2
- Watermelons Jun 28 – Aug 11
- Hot peppers Jun 28 – Oct 4
July
Sow for fall
- Cabbage Jul 5 – Aug 2
- Cauliflower Jul 12 – Aug 2
- Broccoli Jul 12 – Aug 9
Start picking
- Winter squash Jul 1 – Sep 23
- Celery Jul 6 – Aug 31
- Pumpkins Jul 11 – Sep 19
- Sweet potatoes Jul 25 – Sep 19
August
Sow for fall
- Cucumbers Aug 2–16
- Green beans Aug 2–16
- Zucchini Aug 9–23
- Peas Aug 9–23
- Carrots Aug 9–30
- Beets Aug 9–30
- Kale Aug 9 – Sep 6
- Collard greens Aug 9 – Sep 6
- Green onions Aug 16–30
- Cilantro Aug 23 – Sep 6
- Lettuce Aug 23 – Sep 13
- Kohlrabi Aug 23 – Sep 13
- Bok choy Aug 23 – Sep 13
- Spinach Aug 23 – Sep 20
- Turnips Aug 23 – Sep 20
- Arugula Aug 30 – Sep 27
- Mustard greens Aug 30 – Sep 27
September
Sow for fall
- Radishes Sep 13 – Oct 4
Start picking
- Cucumbers Sep 21 – Nov 1
- Green beans Sep 21 – Nov 1
- Zucchini Sep 23 – Nov 1
- Beets Sep 28 – Nov 2
- Arugula Sep 29 – Nov 6
- Mustard greens Sep 29 – Nov 11
October
Sow for fall
- Garlic (garlic cloves) Oct 18 – Nov 22
Start picking
- Cabbage Oct 1 – Nov 28
- Bok choy Oct 2 – Nov 7
- Spinach Oct 2 – Nov 9
- Lettuce Oct 2 – Nov 13
- Turnips Oct 2 – Nov 19
- Peas Oct 3 – Nov 1
- Cauliflower Oct 3 – Nov 15
- Broccoli Oct 3 – Nov 25
- Kale Oct 3 – Dec 13
- Collard greens Oct 3 – Dec 13
- Brussels sprouts Oct 5 – Dec 13
- Kohlrabi Oct 7 – Nov 12
- Cilantro Oct 7 – Nov 15
- Radishes Oct 8 – Nov 3
- Carrots Oct 8 – Nov 19
- Green onions Oct 15 – Nov 26
- Parsnips Oct 18 – Dec 13
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.