In Zone 7, the minimum winter temperatures are between 0°and 10°F.
The last frost occurs around mid-April, and the first frost is around mid-October, resulting in a long growing season of between 6 and 7 months.
The first and last frost dates can vary each year by a week or two, so account for this in your growing schedule.
Zone 7 has an excellent balance of hot and cold weather, and most plants thrive in the climate.
If you want your garden to thrive, you must sow plants at the correct time.
Discover the best time to put plants in the ground with our Zone 7 planting calendar below.
Table of Contents
What Seeds Can I Plant in Zone 7?
You can plant an extensive range of vegetation in Zone 7, including hot-climate plants such as eggplants and tomatoes and cold-loving plants such as beets and broccoli.
Native plants thrive the most because they have evolved to suit the climate. Local garden centers and nurseries have the best range of native plants.
When to Plant Seeds in Zone 7?
In Zone 7, you can start sowing indoors as early as January, but in most cases, you must wait until the last frost has passed before planting seedlings outdoors.
Each plant is unique, and you must plant them according to the first and last frost dates to ensure optimum growth and yield.
If you sow them too early, young plants can perish in the last frost. If you also plant them too late, your plants may not reach maturity before the first frost arrives.
You can plant some cold-loving plants again in September for a late second crop. It’s better to sow cold-loving plants when the hottest weather has passed.
The seed packet will provide you with information on when to plant the seeds before the first and last frost dates. It will also provide information about the water, light, temperature, and soil requirements.
To get the best results from your plants, always follow the instructions on seed packets.
To get a better idea about when to plant seeds, take a look at our month-by-month Zone 7 planting calendar below.
Zone 7 Planting Calendar
Zone 7 has a long growing window, and you can start plants early indoors from January.
Plant cold-hardy crops such as beets and cabbage outside 1–2 weeks before the last frost.
After the last frost, you can sow directly in the ground and transplant seedlings outdoors.
You can continue sowing throughout the season through to November.
Planting in January
It’s too cold to plant anything outside in January, but you can start many plants indoors.
Keep seedlings in a warm, draft-free room. Use a grow light for indoor plants if they don’t get enough sunlight or heat mats to keep the soil warm.
Here are the things you can grow indoors in January:
| Vegetables | Herbs | Flowers |
| Asparagus | Parsley | Coleus |
| Broccoli | Geraniums | |
| Celery | ||
| Leeks |
Planting in February
It’s still cold outside, and the days are short in February, but with only 8 to 10 weeks until the last frost, there are a variety of things you can germinate indoors.
Here are the things you should plant indoors in February:
| Vegetables | Herbs | Flowers | Fruits |
| Arugula | Oregano | Baby’s Breath | Goji berry |
| Brussel sprouts | Zinnias | Gooseberry | |
| Cauliflower | |||
| Parsnips | |||
| Peas | |||
| Squash |
Planting in March
It’s starting to warm up outside in March. The earth is heating up, and the threat of frost is almost over.
You can put your seedlings outdoors to harden them off towards the end of March.
Put them outside for an hour or two during the daytime and gradually build up the time.
Hardening plants off helps them acclimatize to living outdoors.
Here are the things you can sow indoors in March:
| Vegetables | Herbs | Flowers |
| Eggplant | Mint | Hollyhock |
| Horseradish | Morning | |
| Tomato | Phlox | |
| Zucchini |
Planting in April
The last frost in Zone 7 is usually in April. When all danger of frost has passed, you can sow directly in the ground and transplant seedlings outdoors.
If you can work the earth, you can sow some cold hardy plants directly in the ground 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost date.
Here are the things you can plant outside when the last frost has passed in April:
| Vegetables | Herbs | Flowers | Fruits |
| Asian greens | Lemongrass | Black-eyed Susans | Apple |
| Beets* | Tarragon | Dahlias | Blackberries |
| Cabbage* | Gladiolus | Elderberry | |
| Carrots* | Marigolds | Pears | |
| Collards* | Roses | ||
| Kale | Veronica | ||
| Lettuce | |||
| Potatoes | |||
| Radish* | |||
| Spinach | |||
| Swiss chard |
*You can plant these in the ground 2 to 3 weeks before the last frost.
Planting in May
By May, the threat of frost has usually passed, and the earth is quite warm.
In May, it is totally safe to sow outdoors, and all seedlings should be in the ground.
Here are the best things you can plant outside in Zone 7 in May:
| Vegetables | Herbs | Flowers | Fruits |
| Beans | Bail | Asters | Cold hardy banana |
| Corn | Catnip | Borage | Cranberry |
| Cucumber | Chives | Butterfly Bush | Melons |
| Peppers | Delphiniums | Peaches | |
| Sweet Potatoes | Clematis | ||
| Okra | Cosmos | ||
| Sunflowers |
Planting in June
In June, the temperature and daylight are increasing, and a lot of activities take place in the garden.
Here are the things to plant in June:
| Vegetables | Herbs | Flowers | Fruits |
| Endives | Chamomile | Cannas | Kiwi |
| Squash | Dill | Carnations | Persimmon |
| Turnip | Fennel | Celosia | Raspberries |
| Marjoram | Daylilies | ||
| Honeysuckle |
Planting in July
It’s getting hot in Zone 7 in July, but you can plant some vegetables again for a second crop.
Here are the things you can plant in July:
| Vegetables | Herbs | Flowers | Fruits |
| Artichoke | Coriander | Coneflower | Strawberries |
| Beets* | Chervil | Daisies | |
| Carrots* | Fenugreek | Hibiscus | |
| Chard* | Yarrow | ||
| Cucumber* | |||
| Summer Squash* |
*Plant at the beginning of June for a second, late crop.
Planting in August
Zone 7 is hot in August, and the heat may cause things to slow down in the garden. Many plants will be maturing, and there are many things to harvest.
Here are the things you can plant in August when the peak temperatures have passed:
| Vegetables | Herbs | Flowers | Fruits |
| Rhubarb | Thyme | Cornflowers | Currants |
| Rocket | Lovage | Dahlia | |
| Honesty | |||
| Sedum |
Planting in September
There’s still plenty to do in the garden in Zone 7 in September.
In September in Zone 7, you still have 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost arrives, and you should take advantage of the time to plant a second crop of leafy greens.
Here are the things you can plant outside in September:
| Vegetables | Herbs | Flowers | Fruits |
| Kale* | Lavender | Anemone | Apricots |
| Lettuce* | Rosemary | Bee Balm | Blueberries |
| Spinach* | Sage | Calendula | Plums |
| Chrysanthemums | |||
| Peonies | |||
| Violas |
*Plant in early September for a late crop before winter arrives.
Planting in October
The first frost usually arrives around mid-October in Zone 7.
Though winter is around the corner, some cold hardy plants thrive with a cold dormant period.
You can also extend the growing season into November by covering your plants to protect them from frost.
Here are the things you can plant in your garden before the first frost arrives:
| Vegetables | Flowers | Fruits |
| Garlic | Daffodils | Cherries |
| Onions | Columbine | Figs |
| Iris | Grape Vines | |
| Jasmin | Mulberry | |
| Pansies | Pawpaw |
Planting in November
November is the last active planting month in the Zone 7 calendar.
But there are still a few things that you can plant in the ground:
| Vegetables | Flowers |
| Shallots – after the last frost. | Poppies |
| Tulips |
Planting in December
There isn’t much daylight in December, and it is cold outside with regular frosts, so it’s not a good time for planting.
Use your spare time in December to prepare your garden for the coming spring. Make a growing plan, buy seeds and supplies, and tend your compost heap and growing area.
Summary
Zone 7 has a good balance of cold and hot weather, and you can grow many vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits throughout the year.
The growing season in Zone 7 is long, between 6 and 7 months, and you can plant some vegetables, such as spinach, twice to get a second crop before winter.
To extend the Zone 7 growing season, you can start some plants indoors as early as January and transplant seedlings outside after the last frost in April.
You can also protect plants from frost with covers to extend the growing season in early spring and late autumn.
Resources
- https://thegardeningdad.com/best-time-to-plant-lemon-grass-in-hardiness-zone-7/
- https://www.ageukmobility.co.uk/mobility-news/article/fruit-vegetable-growing-guide-for-august
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- https://www.americanmeadows.com/perennials/lavender/how-to-grow-lavender
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- https://www.gardenate.com/plant/Rocket?zone=10
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