USDA Zone 7a Planting Calendar: What to Plant and When
Zone 7a means an average lowest winter temperature of 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit (-18 to -15 Celsius).
Your growing region in zone 7a
Zone 7a runs through the regions below. Each one has a month by month sowing calendar built on its own frost dates and summer heat, not on the zone number.
| Region | Zone range | Frost window |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Southwest | 7a-10a | February 5 to December 5 |
| Mid-South | 7a-8b | April 10 to October 25 |
| Pacific Northwest | 6b-9a | March 25 to November 15 |
| Northeast & New England | 5a-7b | May 10 to October 15 |
| Mid-Atlantic | 6b-8a | April 15 to October 25 |
| Midwest & Great Lakes | 5a-7a | April 30 to October 15 |
| Mountain West | 5a-7b | May 5 to September 30 |
| Southern Plains | 5b-7b | April 10 to October 30 |
| Alaska | 1b-7b | May 15 to September 10 |
What to plant now in zone 7a: October 2026, region by region
Zone 7a runs through Desert Southwest, Mid-South, Pacific Northwest, Northeast & New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest & Great Lakes, Mountain West, Southern Plains and Alaska, and each of them plants on its own calendar. These are the vegetables to sow or plant this month in each region, from the same data as the region calendars; follow the links for herbs, fruit and the full year.
| Region | Vegetables to sow this month | Calendars |
|---|---|---|
| Desert Southwest | 46 vegetables, including Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish and 34 more. | October in Desert Southwest Desert Southwest vegetable planting calendar |
| Mid-South | 20 vegetables, including Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Onion, Garlic, Arugula, Bok Choy, Chicory, Endive & Escarole, Fennel (Herb), Komatsuna and 8 more. | October in Mid-South Mid-South vegetable planting calendar |
| Pacific Northwest | 2 vegetables, including Garlic, Shallot. | October in Pacific Northwest Pacific Northwest vegetable planting calendar |
| Northeast & New England | 2 vegetables, including Garlic, Shallot. | October in Northeast & New England Northeast & New England vegetable planting calendar |
| Mid-Atlantic | 39 vegetables, including Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet and 27 more. | October in Mid-Atlantic Mid-Atlantic vegetable planting calendar |
| Midwest & Great Lakes | 2 vegetables, including Garlic, Shallot. | October in Midwest & Great Lakes Midwest & Great Lakes vegetable planting calendar |
| Mountain West | 1 vegetable, including Garlic. | October in Mountain West Mountain West vegetable planting calendar |
| Southern Plains | 39 vegetables, including Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet and 27 more. | October in Southern Plains Southern Plains vegetable planting calendar |
| Alaska | No vegetable sowings this month. | October in Alaska Alaska vegetable planting calendar |
Zone 7a planting calendar: what to plant each month
Zone 7a covers 9 of our regions: Desert Southwest, Mid-South, Pacific Northwest, Northeast & New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest & Great Lakes, Mountain West, Southern Plains and Alaska. A zone shares a winter low, not a planting calendar, so this calendar follows each region's own sowing windows from our data. For each month, the second column lists the vegetables that every region in zone 7a can sow or plant, and the region columns give the number of vegetables each region can sow, linked to that region's month page with the full list. Each month name links to the national page for that month.
| Month | Vegetables to sow in every region of zone 7a | Desert Southwest | Mid-South | Pacific Northwest | Northeast & New England | Mid-Atlantic | Midwest & Great Lakes | Mountain West | Southern Plains | Alaska |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| February | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 29 | 40 | 37 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| March | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 28 | 50 | 50 | 33 | 51 | 0 | 0 | 50 | 0 |
| April | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 12 | 36 | 53 | 51 | 53 | 51 | 49 | 53 | 0 |
| May | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 4 | 38 | 29 | 83 | 39 | 83 | 83 | 38 | 54 |
| June | 1 vegetable: Amaranth. | 4 | 35 | 23 | 33 | 36 | 31 | 32 | 34 | 76 |
| July | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 4 | 17 | 37 | 35 | 53 | 35 | 35 | 54 | 36 |
| August | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 23 | 42 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 36 | 37 | 0 |
| September | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 54 | 35 | 38 | 36 | 37 | 36 | 35 | 37 | 1 |
| October | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 46 | 20 | 2 | 2 | 39 | 2 | 1 | 39 | 0 |
| November | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 42 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| December | No vegetable in every region; see the region counts. | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Zone 7a planting dates by crop
The first and last months to sow or plant 36 popular vegetables, herbs and fruit in each region of zone 7a. A range such as Feb to Apr means you can sow from February through April, and two ranges mean a spring and a fall window. Where our data has a crop set out as transplants, the months are transplanting months. Each crop links to its plant page, which shows the calendar for any region.
| Crop | Desert Southwest | Mid-South | Pacific Northwest | Northeast & New England | Mid-Atlantic | Midwest & Great Lakes | Mountain West | Southern Plains | Alaska |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Bell Pepper | Feb to Mar and Aug | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Chili Pepper | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Eggplant | Feb to Mar and Aug | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Zucchini | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Squash | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Cucumber | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Pumpkin | Mar and Aug | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Sweet Corn | Feb to Mar | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Bush Beans | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Peas | Jan and Sep to Oct | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | May to Jul |
| Snow Peas | Jan and Sep to Oct | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | May to Jul |
| Okra | Apr to Jul | May to Jul | Not recommended | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Not recommended |
| Southern Peas | Mar to Apr and Aug | May to Jul | Not recommended | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Lettuce | Sep to Feb | Feb to Mar and Aug to Oct | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | May to Jul |
| Spinach | Sep to Feb | Feb to Mar and Aug to Oct | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | May to Jul |
| Swiss Chard | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Mar to Apr and Sep | Mar to Apr and Sep | Apr to May and Aug to Sep | Mar to Apr and Sep to Oct | Apr to May and Aug to Sep | May and Aug | Mar to Apr and Sep to Oct | May to Jun |
| Kale | Sep to Feb | Feb to Mar and Aug to Oct | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | May to Jul |
| Collard Greens | Jan and Sep to Nov | Feb to Mar and Aug to Oct | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | May to Jul |
| Broccoli | Jan and Sep to Nov | Feb to Mar and Jul to Aug | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | May to Jul |
| Cabbage | Jan and Sep to Nov | Feb to Mar and Jul to Aug | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | May to Jul |
| Cauliflower | Jan and Sep to Nov | Feb to Mar and Jul to Aug | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | May to Jul |
| Carrot | Jan and Sep to Nov | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | May to Jul |
| Beet | Jan and Sep to Nov | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | May to Jul |
| Radish | Jan and Sep to Nov | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | May to Jul |
| Turnip | Jan and Sep to Nov | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Oct | May to Jul |
| Onion | Oct to Nov | Feb to Mar and Sep to Oct | Feb to Apr and Aug to Sep | Apr to May | Mar to Apr | Apr to May | Apr to May | Mar to Apr | May to Jun |
| Garlic | Oct to Nov | Oct to Nov | Oct to Nov | Oct | Oct to Nov | Oct | Sep to Oct | Oct to Nov | Sep |
| Potato | Jan and Sep to Nov | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Apr to May | Feb to Apr and Jul to Aug | Apr to May | Apr to May | Feb to Apr and Jul to Aug | May to Jun |
| Sweet Potato | Apr to Jul | May to Jun | Not recommended | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | Not recommended |
| Basil | Mar to Apr and Sep | Apr to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | Jun |
| Cilantro | Jan to Feb and Oct to Nov | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | Feb to Apr and Jul to Sep | Mar to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Apr to May and Jul to Sep | Feb to Apr and Aug to Oct | May to Jul |
| Parsley | Jan to Feb and Oct to Nov | Mar to Apr and Sep | Mar to Apr and Sep | Apr to May and Aug to Sep | Mar to Apr and Sep to Oct | Apr to May and Aug to Sep | May and Aug | Mar to Apr and Sep to Oct | May to Jun |
| Strawberry | Oct to Nov | Mar to Apr | Mar to Apr | Apr to May | Mar to Apr | Apr to May | Apr to May | Mar to Apr | May to Jun |
| Watermelon | Feb to Mar | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun |
| Cantaloupe | Feb to Mar | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun | May to Jun | May to Jul | May to Jun |
Frost dates in zone 7a
Frost dates, not the zone number, set the sowing windows above. These are the regional frost windows from our frost table, with the ZIP code records for a few places in each region. ZIP code figures come from the nearest weather station in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals at the 50 percent level, so in one year out of two the last frost comes later. Check your own ZIP code in the Frost Lookup.
| Region | Frost window | Growing season | ZIP code records |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desert Southwest | February 5 to December 5 | about 303 days | Phoenix (85004): effectively frost free Tucson (85701): last frost January 20, first frost December 17 Yuma (85364): last frost January 8, first frost December 28 Las Vegas (89101): last frost February 1, first frost December 8 |
| Mid-South | April 10 to October 25 | about 198 days | Atlanta (30303): last frost March 24, first frost November 8 Charlotte (28202): last frost March 30, first frost November 3 Raleigh (27601): last frost March 28, first frost November 8 Nashville (37203): last frost April 1, first frost October 31 Little Rock (72201): last frost March 21, first frost November 10 Louisville (40202): last frost March 31, first frost November 9 |
| Pacific Northwest | March 25 to November 15 | about 235 days | Seattle (98101): last frost March 13, first frost November 17 Portland (97204): last frost February 25, first frost December 1 Olympia (98501): last frost April 29, first frost October 14 Eugene (97401): last frost April 11, first frost October 23 |
| Northeast & New England | May 10 to October 15 | about 158 days | Boston (02108): last frost April 4, first frost November 9 Hartford (06103): last frost April 17, first frost October 26 Burlington (05401): last frost April 29, first frost October 15 Albany (12207): last frost April 27, first frost October 15 New York City (10001): last frost March 30, first frost November 20 Philadelphia (19103): last frost March 30, first frost November 17 |
| Mid-Atlantic | April 15 to October 25 | about 193 days | Washington, DC (20001): last frost March 24, first frost November 18 Baltimore (21202): last frost March 24, first frost November 21 Richmond (23219): last frost April 3, first frost November 4 Wilmington (19801): last frost April 7, first frost November 4 Charleston, WV (25301): last frost April 16, first frost October 26 |
| Midwest & Great Lakes | April 30 to October 15 | about 168 days | Chicago (60601): last frost April 10, first frost November 5 Detroit (48226): last frost April 21, first frost October 31 Columbus (43215): last frost April 24, first frost October 18 Indianapolis (46204): last frost April 20, first frost October 21 Milwaukee (53202): last frost April 23, first frost October 24 Des Moines (50309): last frost April 18, first frost October 20 |
| Mountain West | May 5 to September 30 | about 148 days | Denver (80202): last frost May 4, first frost October 8 Salt Lake City (84101): last frost March 31, first frost November 8 Boise (83702): last frost May 17, first frost October 12 Cheyenne (82001): last frost May 14, first frost October 1 Santa Fe (87501): last frost May 2, first frost October 17 |
| Southern Plains | April 10 to October 30 | about 203 days | Kansas City (64105): last frost April 4, first frost November 2 St. Louis (63101): last frost April 1, first frost November 4 Oklahoma City (73102): last frost April 4, first frost November 2 Tulsa (74103): last frost March 31, first frost November 4 Wichita (67202): last frost April 11, first frost October 29 Omaha (68102): last frost April 18, first frost October 21 |
| Alaska | May 15 to September 10 | about 118 days | Anchorage (99501): last frost May 1, first frost September 29 Fairbanks (99701): last frost May 22, first frost August 24 Juneau (99801): last frost May 3, first frost October 14 |
What zone 7a is good for
Any perennial, shrub or fruit tree rated to zone 7a or lower should survive a normal winter where you are. That is the question a zone answers well. For fruit trees there is a second number that matters just as much: winter chill hours, which decide whether a variety will set fruit at all. The free app checks both.
Find your dates
Match your zip code to a region, then check the frost dates table for your sowing window.
Questions about zone 7a
What temperature is USDA zone 7a?
Zone 7a has an average annual lowest winter temperature of 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, which is -18 to -15 degrees Celsius.
What can I plant in zone 7a?
Any perennial or fruit tree rated to zone 7a or lower should survive a normal winter there. For annual vegetables the zone is the wrong tool: use your last and first frost dates instead, because they set the sowing window.
Does zone 7a tell me when to plant tomatoes?
No. Sowing dates come from your last spring frost, not your hardiness zone. Two gardens in zone 7a can have frost dates weeks apart.
What should I plant now in zone 7a?
It depends on which region of zone 7a you garden in, because a zone shares a winter low, not a calendar. Zone 7a runs through Desert Southwest, Mid-South, Pacific Northwest, Northeast & New England, Mid-Atlantic, Midwest & Great Lakes, Mountain West, Southern Plains and Alaska. The table on this page lists the vegetables to sow this month in each of them and links to each region's month page and full vegetable planting calendar.
When to plant tomatoes in zone 7a?
It depends on the region, because zone 7a regions plant on different calendars. Our calendars set out tomatoes in the Desert Southwest, February to March and August to September; in the Mid-South, April to June; in the Pacific Northwest, May to June; in the Northeast and New England, May to June; in the Mid-Atlantic, May to July; in the Midwest, May to June; in the Mountain West, May to June; in the Southern Plains, May to July; in Alaska, June. The planting dates table on this page lists the months for every popular crop.
When to plant peppers in zone 7a?
It depends on the region, because zone 7a regions plant on different calendars. Our calendars plant peppers in the Desert Southwest, February to March and August; in the Mid-South, April to June; in the Pacific Northwest, May to June; in the Northeast and New England, May to June; in the Mid-Atlantic, May to July; in the Midwest, May to June; in the Mountain West, May to June; in the Southern Plains, May to July; in Alaska, June. The planting dates table on this page lists the months for every popular crop.
When to plant garlic in zone 7a?
It depends on the region, because zone 7a regions plant on different calendars. Our calendars plant garlic in the Desert Southwest, October to November; in the Mid-South, October to November; in the Pacific Northwest, October to November; in the Northeast and New England, October; in the Mid-Atlantic, October to November; in the Midwest, October; in the Mountain West, September to October; in the Southern Plains, October to November; in Alaska, September. The planting dates table on this page lists the months for every popular crop.
When to plant potatoes in zone 7a?
It depends on the region, because zone 7a regions plant on different calendars. Our calendars plant potatoes in the Desert Southwest, January and September to November; in the Mid-South, February to March and August to September; in the Pacific Northwest, February to April and July to September; in the Northeast and New England, April to May; in the Mid-Atlantic, February to April and July to August; in the Midwest, April to May; in the Mountain West, April to May; in the Southern Plains, February to April and July to August; in Alaska, May to June. The planting dates table on this page lists the months for every popular crop.
When is the last frost in zone 7a?
A zone does not set a frost date, so it depends on the region. In zone 7a, the Desert Southwest has an average last spring frost around February 5 and a first fall frost around December 5; the Mid-South has an average last spring frost around April 10 and a first fall frost around October 25; the Pacific Northwest has an average last spring frost around March 25 and a first fall frost around November 15; the Northeast and New England has an average last spring frost around May 10 and a first fall frost around October 15; the Mid-Atlantic has an average last spring frost around April 15 and a first fall frost around October 25; the Midwest has an average last spring frost around April 30 and a first fall frost around October 15; the Mountain West has an average last spring frost around May 5 and a first fall frost around September 30; the Southern Plains has an average last spring frost around April 10 and a first fall frost around October 30; Alaska has an average last spring frost around May 15 and a first fall frost around September 10. Check your own ZIP code in the Frost Lookup.