Zone 7a Frost Dates & Planting Calendar

USDA Zone 7a has average coldest-winter lows of 0°F to 5°F. Across the 549 cities we track in this zone, the typical last spring frost is around April 15 and the typical first fall frost around October 27.

Winter low 0°F to 5°F

Typical last frost April 15

Typical first frost October 27

Cities 549

Hardiness zones describe winter cold, not frost timing (why that matters). For dates specific to your town, look up your ZIP code.

Zone 7a Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Feb 18 – Mar 4	—	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Apr 22 – May 6	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Apr 29 – May 6	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Mar 18 – Mar 25	Apr 22 – Apr 29	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Mar 25 – Apr 1	Apr 22 – May 6	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Mar 18 – Mar 25	Apr 22 – May 6	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Apr 22 – May 6	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Mar 18 – Mar 25	—	Apr 29 – May 6	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Mar 18 – Mar 25	—	Apr 29 – May 6	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Apr 15 – Apr 29	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Apr 15 – Apr 29	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Sep 1 – Sep 15	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	Sep 1 – Sep 15	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Aug 18 – Sep 1	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Sep 15 – Sep 22	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Mar 25 – Apr 1	Aug 25 – Sep 1	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Apr 1 – Apr 8	Aug 18 – Aug 25	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	Aug 18 – Sep 1	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Feb 25 – Mar 11	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Aug 4 – Aug 18	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Aug 18 – Sep 1	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Mar 11 – Mar 25	—	Sep 15 – Sep 29	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Aug 18 – Sep 1	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Sep 29 – Oct 13	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Mar 4 – Mar 11	—	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	Sep 1 – Sep 15	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Feb 18 – Mar 4	—	Apr 1 – Apr 8	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Mar 25 – Apr 8	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Feb 18 – Mar 4	—	Apr 15 – Apr 22	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Feb 18 – Mar 4	—	Apr 15 – Apr 22	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Apr 22 – May 6	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Mar 18 – Mar 25	Apr 22 – May 6	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Mar 18 – Mar 25	Apr 22 – May 6	Apr 22 – Apr 29	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Apr 22 – May 6	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Apr 22 – May 6	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Cities in Zone 7a

City	Last frost	First frost
Nashville, TN	Apr 1	Oct 31
Boston, MA	Apr 4	Nov 9
Louisville, KY	Mar 31	Nov 9
Tulsa, OK	Mar 31	Nov 4
Wichita, KS	Apr 11	Oct 29
Cleveland, OH	Apr 8	Nov 12
Lexington, KY	Apr 13	Oct 28
Lexington-Fayette, KY	Apr 13	Oct 28
Pittsburgh, PA	Apr 24	Oct 27
St. Louis, MO	Apr 1	Nov 4
Boise, ID	Apr 24	Oct 21
Spokane, WA	Apr 26	Oct 15
Amarillo, TX	Apr 15	Oct 29
Providence, RI	Apr 11	Oct 30
Paterson, NJ	Apr 15	Oct 28
Bridgeport, CT	Apr 5	Nov 6
New Haven, CT	Apr 17	Oct 27
Stamford, CT	Apr 17	Oct 23
North Stamford, CT	Apr 17	Oct 23
Allentown, PA	Apr 20	Oct 24
Provo, UT	Apr 18	Oct 21
Cambridge, MA	Apr 4	Nov 9
Edison, NJ	Apr 15	Oct 26
New Bedford, MA	Apr 11	Nov 5
Erie, PA	Apr 26	Nov 4
Sparks, NV	May 1	Oct 10
Spokane Valley, WA	Apr 26	Oct 15
Orem, UT	Apr 19	Oct 19
Fall River, MA	Apr 11	Nov 2
Yakima, WA	May 8	Oct 4
Lynn, MA	Apr 25	Oct 20
Meridian, ID	Apr 24	Oct 21
Nampa, ID	Apr 29	Oct 13
Trenton, NJ	Apr 17	Oct 28
Toms River, NJ	Apr 23	Oct 20
Norwalk, CT	Apr 17	Oct 23
Reading, PA	Apr 14	Oct 29
Santa Fe, NM	May 14	Oct 6
Greenburgh, NY	Apr 20	Oct 26
Clifton, NJ	Apr 15	Oct 28

States with Zone 7a cities

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the temperature range for Zone 7a?

Zone 7a is defined by an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of 0°F to 5°F (USDA 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map).

When is the last frost in Zone 7a?

Typically around April 15, though it varies by location. Hardiness zones measure winter cold, not frost timing, so two places in the same zone can have last frosts weeks apart — check your city's page for local dates.

When is the first frost in Zone 7a?

Typically around October 27 across the cities we track in Zone 7a.

Neighboring zones: Zone 6b · Zone 7b · All zones