USDA Zone 7a Planting Calendar (2026)
Zone 7a (0 to 5°F) has an average last spring frost on Apr 10 and first fall frost on Oct 25 — about 198 growing days. Typical areas: Nashville TN, Oklahoma City OK.
How to use the zone 7a planting calendar
Every planting date on this page is calculated from zone 7a's average frost dates. Because your last spring frost lands around Apr 10 and your first fall frost around Oct 25, you have roughly 198 frost-free days to work with — a moderate growing season. The table below lists, for each of 20 common vegetables, when to start seeds indoors, when to sow or transplant outdoors, and when you can expect your first harvest.
Frost dates are averages, not guarantees. In a cold year the last frost can arrive 1-2 weeks later, so keep row covers handy for tender seedlings in Apr. Click any vegetable name to open a detailed zone 7a guide with spacing, companions, container tips and troubleshooting.
Cool-season crops for zone 7a
These tolerate light frost and go out first, 2-4 weeks before your Apr 10 last frost, and again in late summer for a fall crop: lettuce, carrot, broccoli, spinach, kale, onion, garlic, potato, peas, radish, beet, cabbage, cauliflower.
Warm-season crops for zone 7a
These need warm soil and frost-free weather, so plant them after Apr 10: tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn, bush beans, summer squash, zucchini. In a moderate season, start the slowest ones indoors to be sure they ripen before Oct.
| Vegetable | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beet | — | Mar 13 | May 7 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Mar 6 | Mar 27 | May 31 |
| 🫘 Bush Beans | — | Apr 17 | Jun 11 |
| 🥬 Cabbage | Feb 27 | Mar 27 | Jun 15 |
| 🥕 Carrot | — | Mar 20 | May 29 |
| 🥦 Cauliflower | Feb 27 | Mar 27 | Jun 10 |
| 🌽 Corn | — | Apr 24 | Jul 13 |
| 🥒 Cucumber | Mar 20 | Apr 24 | Jun 18 |
| 🧄 Garlic | — | Sep 25 | May 23 |
| 🥬 Kale | Mar 6 | Mar 20 | May 14 |
| 🥬 Lettuce | Mar 13 | Mar 20 | May 4 |
| 🧅 Onion | Jan 30 | Mar 13 | Jun 21 |
| 🟢 Peas | — | Feb 27 | Apr 28 |
| 🫑 Pepper | Feb 13 | Apr 24 | Jul 3 |
| 🥔 Potato | — | Mar 27 | Jun 25 |
| 🌶️ Radish | — | Mar 13 | Apr 10 |
| 🍃 Spinach | — | Mar 6 | Apr 15 |
| 🎃 Summer Squash | Mar 20 | Apr 17 | Jun 6 |
| 🍅 Tomato | Feb 27 | Apr 17 | Jul 1 |
| 🥒 Zucchini | Mar 20 | Apr 17 | Jun 6 |
Spring, summer and fall planting in zone 7a
Spring (Apr): As soon as the soil can be worked, direct sow hardy cool-season crops and set out frost-tolerant transplants. This is your window for peas, lettuce, spinach and the brassicas before summer heat arrives.
Early summer (after Apr 10): Once frost danger passes and soil warms past 60°F, transplant tomatoes, peppers and squash and direct sow beans and cucumbers. This is the heart of the zone 7a growing season.
Late summer to fall (before Oct 25):Sow a second round of quick cool-season crops for a fall harvest. Count back each crop's days-to-harvest from Oct 25 to find the latest safe sowing date, and use row covers to stretch the season a few extra weeks.
Zone 7a planting FAQ
What planting zone is Nashville TN?
Areas like Nashville TN, Oklahoma City OK fall in USDA hardiness zone 7a, defined by an average annual minimum temperature of 0 to 5°F. Your average last spring frost is around Apr 10 and your first fall frost around Oct 25.
When is the last frost in zone 7a?
The average last spring frost in zone 7a is around Apr 10. Wait until after this date before transplanting warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers and squash. Cool-season crops can go out 2-4 weeks earlier because they tolerate light frost.
How long is the growing season in zone 7a?
Zone 7a has roughly 198 frost-free days between the last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Oct 25). That is a moderate season — enough time for most vegetables plus some succession planting.
What vegetables grow best in zone 7a?
Reliable choices for zone 7a include cool-season crops such as lettuce, carrot, broccoli, spinach planted in early spring, and warm-season crops such as tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn planted after the last frost. See the full table below for exact dates.
Can I grow a fall garden in zone 7a?
Yes. With a first frost around Oct 25, you can plant a second round of quick cool-season crops in mid to late summer. Count back the days-to-harvest from Oct 25 to find your fall planting date.
When should I start seeds indoors in zone 7a?
Most warm-season seedlings are started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost — that means roughly Apr for zone 7a. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant benefit most from an indoor head start in this zone.