USDA Zone 7b Planting Calendar (2026)
Zone 7b (5 to 10°F) has an average last spring frost on Apr 5 and first fall frost on Nov 1 — about 210 growing days. Typical areas: Atlanta GA, Raleigh NC.
How to use the zone 7b planting calendar
Every planting date on this page is calculated from zone 7b's average frost dates. Because your last spring frost lands around Apr 5 and your first fall frost around Nov 1, you have roughly 210 frost-free days to work with — a long 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 7b guide with spacing, companions, container tips and troubleshooting.
Cool-season crops for zone 7b
These tolerate light frost and go out first, 2-4 weeks before your Apr 5 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 7b
These need warm soil and frost-free weather, so plant them after Apr 5: tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn, bush beans, summer squash, zucchini. In a long season, start the slowest ones indoors to be sure they ripen before Nov.
| Vegetable | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beet | — | Mar 8 | May 2 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Mar 1 | Mar 22 | May 26 |
| 🫘 Bush Beans | — | Apr 12 | Jun 6 |
| 🥬 Cabbage | Feb 22 | Mar 22 | Jun 10 |
| 🥕 Carrot | — | Mar 15 | May 24 |
| 🥦 Cauliflower | Feb 22 | Mar 22 | Jun 5 |
| 🌽 Corn | — | Apr 19 | Jul 8 |
| 🥒 Cucumber | Mar 15 | Apr 19 | Jun 13 |
| 🧄 Garlic | — | Sep 20 | May 18 |
| 🥬 Kale | Mar 1 | Mar 15 | May 9 |
| 🥬 Lettuce | Mar 8 | Mar 15 | Apr 29 |
| 🧅 Onion | Jan 25 | Mar 8 | Jun 16 |
| 🟢 Peas | — | Feb 22 | Apr 23 |
| 🫑 Pepper | Feb 8 | Apr 19 | Jun 28 |
| 🥔 Potato | — | Mar 22 | Jun 20 |
| 🌶️ Radish | — | Mar 8 | Apr 5 |
| 🍃 Spinach | — | Mar 1 | Apr 10 |
| 🎃 Summer Squash | Mar 15 | Apr 12 | Jun 1 |
| 🍅 Tomato | Feb 22 | Apr 12 | Jun 26 |
| 🥒 Zucchini | Mar 15 | Apr 12 | Jun 1 |
Spring, summer and fall planting in zone 7b
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 5): 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 7b growing season.
Late summer to fall (before Nov 1):Sow a second round of quick cool-season crops for a fall harvest. Count back each crop's days-to-harvest from Nov 1 to find the latest safe sowing date, and use row covers to stretch the season a few extra weeks.
Zone 7b planting FAQ
What planting zone is Atlanta GA?
Areas like Atlanta GA, Raleigh NC fall in USDA hardiness zone 7b, defined by an average annual minimum temperature of 5 to 10°F. Your average last spring frost is around Apr 5 and your first fall frost around Nov 1.
When is the last frost in zone 7b?
The average last spring frost in zone 7b is around Apr 5. 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 7b?
Zone 7b has roughly 210 frost-free days between the last spring frost (Apr 5) and first fall frost (Nov 1). That is a long season — long enough for two or even three successive harvests of fast crops.
What vegetables grow best in zone 7b?
Reliable choices for zone 7b 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 7b?
Yes. With a first frost around Nov 1, you can plant a second round of quick cool-season crops in mid to late summer. Count back the days-to-harvest from Nov 1 to find your fall planting date.
When should I start seeds indoors in zone 7b?
Most warm-season seedlings are started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost — that means roughly Apr for zone 7b. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant benefit most from an indoor head start in this zone.