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USDA Zone 7b Planting Calendar: What to Plant and When

Zone 7b means an average lowest winter temperature of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit (-15 to -12 Celsius).

Rows of green and red lettuce in a raised bed
Your zone will not tell you when to sow. A hardiness zone is a winter survival number and nothing else. It does not give you a last frost date, a growing season length, or any measure of summer heat. Zone 7b runs through Desert Southwest, Mid-South, Pacific Northwest, Northeast & New England, Mid-Atlantic, Mountain West, Southern Plains, Northern California & Central Valley and Alaska, which share a winter low and almost nothing else. The frost window is February 5 to December 5 in Desert Southwest, April 10 to October 25 in Mid-South, March 25 to November 15 in Pacific Northwest, May 10 to October 15 in Northeast & New England, April 15 to October 25 in Mid-Atlantic, May 5 to September 30 in Mountain West, April 10 to October 30 in Southern Plains, February 28 to November 17 in Northern California & Central Valley and May 15 to September 10 in Alaska. Their sowing calendars are weeks apart. Use your zone to choose fruit trees and perennials, and use your frost dates to schedule everything you sow.

Your growing region in zone 7b

Zone 7b 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.

RegionZone rangeFrost window
Desert Southwest7a-10aFebruary 5 to December 5
Mid-South7a-8bApril 10 to October 25
Pacific Northwest6b-9aMarch 25 to November 15
Northeast & New England5a-7bMay 10 to October 15
Mid-Atlantic6b-8aApril 15 to October 25
Mountain West5a-7bMay 5 to September 30
Southern Plains5b-7bApril 10 to October 30
Northern California & Central Valley7b-10aFebruary 28 to November 17
Alaska1b-7bMay 15 to September 10

What to plant now in zone 7b: October 2026, region by region

Zone 7b runs through Desert Southwest, Mid-South, Pacific Northwest, Northeast & New England, Mid-Atlantic, Mountain West, Southern Plains, Northern California & Central Valley 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.

RegionVegetables to sow this monthCalendars
Desert Southwest46 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-South20 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 Northwest2 vegetables, including Garlic, Shallot.October in Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest vegetable planting calendar
Northeast & New England2 vegetables, including Garlic, Shallot.October in Northeast & New England
Northeast & New England vegetable planting calendar
Mid-Atlantic39 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
Mountain West1 vegetable, including Garlic.October in Mountain West
Mountain West vegetable planting calendar
Southern Plains39 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
Northern California & Central Valley45 vegetables, including Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet and 33 more.October in Northern California
Northern California vegetable planting calendar
AlaskaNo vegetable sowings this month.October in Alaska
Alaska vegetable planting calendar

Zone 7b planting calendar: what to plant each month

Curly and lacinato kale growing in a raised bed
Kale: sown or planted in October in 5 of the 9 regions of zone 7b.
Harvested garlic bulbs curing on a potting bench
Garlic: sown or planted in October in 7 of the 9 regions of zone 7b.
Pea vines with green pods climbing a wire trellis
Peas: sown or planted in October in 4 of the 9 regions of zone 7b.

Zone 7b covers 9 of our regions: Desert Southwest, Mid-South, Pacific Northwest, Northeast & New England, Mid-Atlantic, Mountain West, Southern Plains, Northern California 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 7b 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.

MonthVegetables to sow in every region of zone 7bDesert SouthwestMid-SouthPacific NorthwestNortheast & New EnglandMid-AtlanticMountain WestSouthern PlainsNorthern CaliforniaAlaska
JanuaryNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.39000000420
FebruaryNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.294037035035460
MarchNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.2850503351050790
AprilNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.12365351534953410
MayNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.43829833983383754
June1 vegetable: Amaranth.43523333632343576
JulyNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.41737355335543536
AugustNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.23423636363637450
SeptemberNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.54353836373537421
OctoberNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.46202239139450
NovemberNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.42120101410
DecemberNo vegetable in every region; see the region counts.6000000380

Zone 7b planting dates by crop

The first and last months to sow or plant 36 popular vegetables, herbs and fruit in each region of zone 7b. 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.

CropDesert SouthwestMid-SouthPacific NorthwestNortheast & New EnglandMid-AtlanticMountain WestSouthern PlainsNorthern CaliforniaAlaska
TomatoFeb to Mar and Aug to SepApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
Bell PepperFeb to Mar and AugApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
Chili PepperFeb to Mar and Aug to SepApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
EggplantFeb to Mar and AugApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
ZucchiniFeb to Mar and Aug to SepApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
SquashFeb to Mar and Aug to SepApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
CucumberFeb to Mar and Aug to SepApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
PumpkinMar and AugApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
Sweet CornFeb to MarApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
Bush BeansFeb to Mar and Aug to SepApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
PeasJan and Sep to OctFeb to Mar and Aug to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
Snow PeasJan and Sep to OctFeb to Mar and Aug to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
OkraApr to JulMay to JulNot recommendedMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulNot recommended
Southern PeasMar to Apr and AugMay to JulNot recommendedMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
LettuceSep to FebFeb to Mar and Aug to OctFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
SpinachSep to FebFeb to Mar and Aug to OctFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
Swiss ChardFeb to Mar and Aug to SepMar to Apr and SepMar to Apr and SepApr to May and Aug to SepMar to Apr and Sep to OctMay and AugMar to Apr and Sep to OctFeb to Mar and Sep to OctMay to Jun
KaleSep to FebFeb to Mar and Aug to OctFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
Collard GreensJan and Sep to NovFeb to Mar and Aug to OctFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
BroccoliJan and Sep to NovFeb to Mar and Jul to AugFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
CabbageJan and Sep to NovFeb to Mar and Jul to AugFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
CauliflowerJan and Sep to NovFeb to Mar and Jul to AugFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
CarrotJan and Sep to NovFeb to Mar and Aug to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
BeetJan and Sep to NovFeb to Mar and Aug to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
RadishJan and Sep to NovFeb to Mar and Aug to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
TurnipJan and Sep to NovFeb to Mar and Aug to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
OnionOct to NovFeb to Mar and Sep to OctFeb to Apr and Aug to SepApr to MayMar to AprApr to MayMar to AprAug and Oct to JanMay to Jun
GarlicOct to NovOct to NovOct to NovOctOct to NovSep to OctOct to NovOct to NovSep
PotatoJan and Sep to NovFeb to Mar and Aug to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to SepApr to MayFeb to Apr and Jul to AugApr to MayFeb to Apr and Jul to AugAug to MarMay to Jun
Sweet PotatoApr to JulMay to JunNot recommendedMay to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JunApr to JunNot recommended
BasilMar to Apr and SepApr to JunMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulJun
CilantroJan to Feb and Oct to NovFeb to Mar and Aug to SepFeb to Apr and Jul to SepMar to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctApr to May and Jul to SepFeb to Apr and Aug to OctAug to MarMay to Jul
ParsleyJan to Feb and Oct to NovMar to Apr and SepMar to Apr and SepApr to May and Aug to SepMar to Apr and Sep to OctMay and AugMar to Apr and Sep to OctFeb to Mar and Sep to OctMay to Jun
StrawberryOct to NovMar to AprMar to AprApr to MayMar to AprApr to MayMar to AprNov to FebMay to Jun
WatermelonFeb to MarMay to JulMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulMay to Jun
CantaloupeFeb to MarMay to JulMay to JunMay to JunMay to JulMay to JunMay to JulMar to JulMay to Jun

Frost dates in zone 7b

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.

RegionFrost windowGrowing seasonZIP code records
Desert SouthwestFebruary 5 to December 5about 303 daysPhoenix (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-SouthApril 10 to October 25about 198 daysAtlanta (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 NorthwestMarch 25 to November 15about 235 daysSeattle (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 EnglandMay 10 to October 15about 158 daysBoston (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-AtlanticApril 15 to October 25about 193 daysWashington, 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
Mountain WestMay 5 to September 30about 148 daysDenver (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 PlainsApril 10 to October 30about 203 daysKansas 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
Northern California & Central ValleyFebruary 28 to November 17about 262 daysSacramento (95814): last frost January 12, first frost December 16
Fresno (93721): last frost January 30, first frost December 11
Bakersfield (93301): last frost January 31, first frost December 8
Redding (96001): last frost February 13, first frost December 13
AlaskaMay 15 to September 10about 118 daysAnchorage (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 7b is good for

Any perennial, shrub or fruit tree rated to zone 7b 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.

Zones changed in 2023. The USDA updated the Plant Hardiness Zone Map in November 2023, the first revision since 2012. It runs about 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit warmer overall and roughly half the country moved up a half zone, with the biggest shifts through the Central Plains and Midwest. If you learned your zone before then, it is worth checking again.

Questions about zone 7b

What temperature is USDA zone 7b?

Zone 7b has an average annual lowest winter temperature of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit, which is -15 to -12 degrees Celsius.

What can I plant in zone 7b?

Any perennial or fruit tree rated to zone 7b 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 7b tell me when to plant tomatoes?

No. Sowing dates come from your last spring frost, not your hardiness zone. Two gardens in zone 7b can have frost dates weeks apart.

What should I plant now in zone 7b?

It depends on which region of zone 7b you garden in, because a zone shares a winter low, not a calendar. Zone 7b runs through Desert Southwest, Mid-South, Pacific Northwest, Northeast & New England, Mid-Atlantic, Mountain West, Southern Plains, Northern California & Central Valley 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 7b?

It depends on the region, because zone 7b 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 Mountain West, May to June; in the Southern Plains, May to July; in Northern California, March 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 7b?

It depends on the region, because zone 7b 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 Mountain West, May to June; in the Southern Plains, May to July; in Northern California, March 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 7b?

It depends on the region, because zone 7b 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 Mountain West, September to October; in the Southern Plains, October to November; in Northern California, 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 7b?

It depends on the region, because zone 7b 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 Mountain West, April to May; in the Southern Plains, February to April and July to August; in Northern California, August to March; 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 7b?

A zone does not set a frost date, so it depends on the region. In zone 7b, 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 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; Northern California has an average last spring frost around February 28 and a first fall frost around November 17; 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.

All zones

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