Zone 7 Planting Guide
What to plant and do every month in USDA Hardiness Zone 7.
Last spring frost: ~April 10–15
First fall frost: ~November 1–15
Growing season: ~200 days
January
Planning & dreaming. The coldest, quietest month.
Frost
Hard freezes
Soil Temp
35–45°F
Start Indoor
Onions, leeks (late)
Direct Sow
—
Harvest
Overwintered greens
Do This Month
- Plan your garden layout on paper
- Order seeds before favorites sell out
- Prune dormant fruit trees
- Clean and sharpen your tools
- Start onion & leek seeds indoors (late Jan)
Start Indoors
- Onions
- Leeks
Harvest This Month
- Kale & collards (under cover)
- Spinach
- Leeks
Watch Out For
- Frost heave lifting perennials out of the soil
- Rodents nesting in mulch
- Rot in stored produce
February
Late winter. Start cool-season seeds indoors.
Frost
Still freezing
Soil Temp
40–45°F
Start Indoor
Brassicas, onions
Direct Sow
Peas, spinach (late)
Harvest
Overwintered greens
Do This Month
- Start broccoli, cabbage & cauliflower indoors
- Continue onions & leeks indoors
- Finish pruning fruit trees
- Prep and amend beds when soil isn’t frozen
- Direct sow peas late month in mild areas
Start Indoors
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Onions & leeks
Plant Outdoors
- Peas (late, mild areas)
- Spinach (under cover)
Harvest This Month
- Kale
- Spinach
- Leeks
Watch Out For
- Damping-off disease in seedlings
- Leggy starts from too little light
- Overwatering indoor seedlings
March
Cool-season planting begins outdoors.
Frost
Light frosts
Soil Temp
45–55°F
Start Indoor
Tomatoes, peppers
Direct Sow
Peas, greens, roots
Harvest
Early spring greens
Do This Month
- Start tomatoes, peppers & eggplant indoors
- Direct sow cool-season crops outdoors
- Plant seed potatoes
- Transplant hardened-off broccoli & cabbage
- Set out onion sets
Start Indoors
- Tomatoes
- Peppers
- Eggplant
Plant Outdoors
- Peas
- Spinach & lettuce
- Radishes
- Carrots & beets
- Potatoes
- Onion sets
Harvest This Month
- Spinach & lettuce
- Overwintered greens
Watch Out For
- Late hard frosts — keep row covers handy
- Slugs on tender seedlings
- Seeds rotting in cold, wet soil
April
Last frost passes. Spring in full swing.
Frost
Last frost ~mid-April
Soil Temp
55–60°F
Start Indoor
Cucumbers, squash
Direct Sow
Greens, roots, beans (late)
Harvest
Lettuce, peas, radishes
Do This Month
- Harden off & transplant tomatoes/peppers after last frost
- Direct sow successions of lettuce & radishes
- Start cucumbers, squash & melons indoors
- Mulch beds to hold moisture
Start Indoors
- Cucumbers
- Squash
- Melons
Plant Outdoors
- Lettuce, carrots, beets, chard
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes & peppers (late April)
- Beans (late April)
Harvest This Month
- Lettuce & spinach
- Radishes
- Peas
- Asparagus
Watch Out For
- A surprise late frost early in the month
- Aphids on tender new growth
- Cutworms felling young transplants
May
Frost-free. The big warm-season planting month.
Frost
None
Soil Temp
60–70°F
Start Indoor
—
Direct Sow
Beans, corn, squash
Harvest
Strawberries, peas, lettuce
Do This Month
- Plant all warm-season crops
- Succession sow beans & corn
- Stake and cage tomatoes early
- Mulch heavily and set up watering
Plant Outdoors
- Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant
- Beans & corn
- Cucumbers, squash, melons
- Sweet potatoes
Harvest This Month
- Strawberries
- Lettuce & spring greens
- Peas
- Radishes
Watch Out For
- Flea beetles & cucumber beetles
- Cutworms on new transplants
- Sudden heat stressing tender plants
June
Peak summer growth. Harvest begins.
Frost
None
Soil Temp
70–80°F
Start Indoor
—
Direct Sow
Beans, okra, squash
Harvest
Squash, cucumbers, beans
Do This Month
- Succession sow beans & summer squash
- Side-dress tomatoes & corn with fertilizer
- Water deeply and consistently
- Scout for squash bugs & hornworms
Plant Outdoors
- Okra & southern peas
- Sweet potatoes
- Succession beans & cucumbers
- Pumpkins (for fall)
Harvest This Month
- Summer squash & cucumbers
- Beans
- First tomatoes
- Blueberries
Watch Out For
- Squash bugs & squash vine borers
- Early blight on tomatoes
- Powdery mildew beginning
July
Hot. Maintain the garden and plan for fall.
Frost
None
Soil Temp
80–90°F
Start Indoor
Fall brassicas
Direct Sow
Pumpkins (early)
Harvest
Tomatoes, peppers, squash
Do This Month
- Start fall broccoli, cabbage & cauliflower indoors
- Harvest daily to keep plants producing
- Water deeply in the morning
- Watch for disease and pests in the heat
Start Indoors
- Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower (fall)
- Fall tomatoes
Harvest This Month
- Tomatoes & peppers
- Cucumbers & squash
- Beans & melons
- Blueberries
Watch Out For
- Tomato hornworms
- Spider mites in the heat
- Blossom end rot & heat-stress wilting
August
Fall garden goes in. Summer harvest peaks.
Frost
None
Soil Temp
75–85°F
Start Indoor
—
Direct Sow
Lettuce, carrots, beets
Harvest
Tomatoes, peppers, melons
Do This Month
- Transplant fall broccoli, cauliflower & cabbage (early Aug)
- Direct sow last bush beans by Aug 1
- Sow fall lettuce, carrots & beets under shade cloth
- Sow kale & collards (mid-Aug)
- Keep scouting for hornworms & squash bugs
Plant Outdoors
- Fall brassicas (transplant)
- Lettuce, carrots, beets, turnips
- Kale & collards
- Bush beans (last by Aug 1)
Harvest This Month
- Tomatoes (peak) & peppers
- Melons & eggplant
- Okra & summer squash
- Beans, onions, corn
Watch Out For
- Hornworms & stink bugs
- Powdery & downy mildew
- Cabbage worms on new fall brassicas
September
Fall planting and the summer-to-fall transition.
Frost
None yet
Soil Temp
70–75°F
Start Indoor
—
Direct Sow
Spinach, lettuce, radishes
Harvest
Tomatoes, peppers, fall greens
Do This Month
- Direct sow cool-season greens
- Transplant any remaining fall brassicas (early Sep)
- Order garlic for October planting
- Sow cover crops in empty beds
Plant Outdoors
- Spinach, lettuce, arugula
- Radishes & turnips
- Kale & mustard
- Cover crops
Harvest This Month
- Tomatoes & peppers
- Sweet potatoes
- Winter squash
- Early fall greens
Watch Out For
- Cabbage worms & loopers on fall greens
- Powdery mildew lingering
- Aphids returning in cooler weather
October
Garlic month. Cool-season abundance peaks.
Frost
Late Oct – Nov 10
Soil Temp
55–65°F
Start Indoor
Onions (for spring)
Direct Sow
Garlic, spinach
Harvest
Brassicas, roots, apples
Do This Month
- Plant garlic — October is prime time in Zone 7
- Start onion seeds indoors for spring
- Direct sow last lettuce & spinach for overwintering
- Pick green tomatoes before hard frost and ripen indoors
- Cure winter squash in the sun for 7–14 days
- Protect frost-tender plants with row covers
Plant Outdoors
- Garlic (prime window)
- Spinach (overwintering)
- Lettuce (last sowings)
- Cover crops
Harvest This Month
- Brassicas (peak)
- Root crops (carrots, beets, turnips)
- Kale (sweetened by frost)
- Final tomatoes, apples, pears, winter squash
Watch Out For
- The first frost on tender crops
- Slugs in cool, damp weather
- Rodents seeking shelter in beds
November
First frosts arrive. Wind down and protect.
Frost
First frost early-mid Nov
Soil Temp
45–55°F
Start Indoor
—
Direct Sow
Garlic (early Nov)
Harvest
Kale, roots, Brussels sprouts
Do This Month
- Finish planting garlic and mulch the bed
- Harvest before hard freezes
- Protect greens with row covers or cold frames
- Clean up spent plants and add compost to beds
- Drain and store hoses
Plant Outdoors
- Garlic (early November)
- Cover crops (early)
Harvest This Month
- Kale & collards
- Brussels sprouts
- Carrots, beets, turnips
- Cabbage & broccoli
Watch Out For
- Hard freezes damaging unprotected greens
- Voles & mice nesting in mulch
- Frost heave on new plantings
December
Rest, plan, and protect for next year.
Frost
Freezing
Soil Temp
35–45°F
Start Indoor
—
Direct Sow
—
Harvest
Hardy greens, leeks
Do This Month
- Harvest hardy greens from under cover
- Plan next year’s garden and order seeds
- Maintain and oil your tools
- Mulch perennials and protect with cold frames
Harvest This Month
- Kale & collards (under cover)
- Spinach
- Leeks & Brussels sprouts
Watch Out For
- Frost heave on perennials
- Rodent damage in stored crops & mulch
- Snow load crushing cold frames