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When to Start Seeds Indoors in Zone 7

Start indoor, transplant, direct sow and fall dates for every crop in zones 7a and 7b, with their frost dates.

Tomato and pepper seedlings in trays under an LED grow light

Zone 7 frost dates

Median last spring and first fall frost dates for zone 7
Half-zoneLast spring frostFirst fall frostFrost-free days
AverageSaferSafestAverageSaferSafest
7a (0 to 5°F)Apr 16Apr 23May 3Oct 25Oct 19Oct 11191
7b (5 to 10°F)Apr 6Apr 12Apr 22Nov 1Oct 27Oct 19209

Medians across the ZIP codes in each half-zone, NOAA 1991 to 2020 climate normals. Average: half of years get frost past the date. Safer: 3 years in 10 (the Almanac's date). Safest: 1 year in 10.

When to start seeds in zone 7a

Counted from the average last frost, Apr 16, and the average first frost, Oct 25.

Planting dates for zone 7a at average frost dates
CropStart indoorsTransplantSow outdoorsFall sowing
BasilMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 16Apr 16·
Beet··Apr 2 to Apr 16by Aug 30
BroccoliMar 5 to Mar 19Mar 26 to Apr 2Mar 26 to Apr 2·
Brussels Sprouts···Jun 28
CabbageFeb 5 to Feb 19Mar 26 to Apr 2Mar 26 to Apr 2·
Cantaloupe··Apr 23 to Apr 30·
Carrot··Mar 26 to Apr 2·
CauliflowerFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 2 to Apr 9Apr 2 to Apr 9·
CilantroMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 16Apr 16·
Collard Greens···Jul 26
Cucumber··Apr 16·
Dill··Apr 2 to Apr 9·
EggplantMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 30··
Green Beans··Apr 9 to Apr 16·
KaleJan 29 to Feb 12Mar 12 to Mar 19Mar 12 to Mar 19Jul 26
LeekJan 22 to Feb 5···
LettuceMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16Mar 26 to Apr 2·
MarigoldMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 16Apr 16·
OnionFeb 19 to Mar 5Mar 19 to Apr 2··
ParsleyMar 5Apr 16Apr 16·
Peas··Mar 19 to Apr 2Aug 23 to Aug 30
PepperFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 30··
Potato··Mar 26 to Apr 2·
Pumpkin··Apr 30·
Radish··Mar 19 to Apr 2·
SpinachMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16Mar 19 to Mar 26·
Squash··Apr 16·
Sunflower··Apr 16·
Sweet Corn··Apr 16·
Swiss ChardMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16Mar 19 to Mar 26·
TomatoFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 30··
Watermelon··Apr 23 to Apr 30·
ZinniaMar 19Apr 16Apr 16·
Zucchini··Apr 16·

When to start seeds in zone 7b

Counted from the average last frost, Apr 6, and the average first frost, Nov 1.

Planting dates for zone 7b at average frost dates
CropStart indoorsTransplantSow outdoorsFall sowing
BasilFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 6Apr 6·
Beet··Mar 23 to Apr 6by Sep 6
BroccoliFeb 23 to Mar 9Mar 16 to Mar 23Mar 16 to Mar 23·
Brussels Sprouts···Jul 5
CabbageJan 26 to Feb 9Mar 16 to Mar 23Mar 16 to Mar 23·
Cantaloupe··Apr 13 to Apr 20·
Carrot··Mar 16 to Mar 23·
CauliflowerFeb 2 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Mar 30Mar 23 to Mar 30·
CilantroFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 6Apr 6·
Collard Greens···Aug 2
Cucumber··Apr 6·
Dill··Mar 23 to Mar 30·
EggplantFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 20··
Green Beans··Mar 30 to Apr 6·
KaleJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 2 to Mar 9Mar 2 to Mar 9Aug 2
LeekJan 12 to Jan 26···
LettuceFeb 23 to Mar 2Apr 6Mar 16 to Mar 23·
MarigoldFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 6Apr 6·
OnionFeb 9 to Feb 23Mar 9 to Mar 23··
ParsleyFeb 23Apr 6Apr 6·
Peas··Mar 9 to Mar 23Aug 30 to Sep 6
PepperFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 20··
Potato··Mar 16 to Mar 23·
Pumpkin··Apr 20·
Radish··Mar 9 to Mar 23·
SpinachFeb 23 to Mar 2Apr 6Mar 9 to Mar 16·
Squash··Apr 6·
Sunflower··Apr 6·
Sweet Corn··Apr 6·
Swiss ChardFeb 23 to Mar 2Apr 6Mar 9 to Mar 16·
TomatoFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 20··
Watermelon··Apr 13 to Apr 20·
ZinniaMar 9Apr 6Apr 6·
Zucchini··Apr 6·

Your own schedule

Your location

Zone medians. Your ZIP code gives the dates of your nearest weather station.

Frost risk

Half of years still get a frost after the spring date, and half get the first fall frost before the fall date.

Frost dates at three risk levels
AverageSaferSafest
Last spring frostApr 16Apr 23May 3
First fall frostOct 25Oct 19Oct 11
Crops (8 selected)

Start your first seeds indoors

Feb 19onion, pepper, tomato

Average frost dates: last Apr 16, first Oct 25 (zone 7a).
Season
Spring seed starting schedule
CropStart indoorsHarden offTransplantSow outdoorsNotes
BasilVery tenderMar 5 to Mar 19Mar 26 to Apr 15Apr 16Apr 16Indoors 4 to 6 wk before last frost. Transplant at last frost. Sow outdoors at last frost. Sprouts in 5 to 14 days, best at 75 to 85°F soil. Pot up at the first true leaves.
BroccoliHardyMar 5 to Mar 19Mar 19 to Mar 25Mar 26 to Apr 2Mar 26 to Apr 2Indoors 4 to 6 wk before last frost. Transplant 2 to 3 wk before last frost. Sow outdoors 2 to 3 wk before last frost. Sprouts in 3 to 10 days, best at 80°F soil. Pot up at the first true leaves. The published dates leave little time indoors: sow at the early end.
CucumberTender···Apr 16Sow outdoors at last frost. Sprouts in 6 to 10 days, best at 60 to 95°F soil.
LettuceHardyMar 5 to Mar 12Mar 26 to Apr 15Apr 16Mar 26 to Apr 2Indoors 5 to 6 wk before last frost. Transplant at last frost. Sow outdoors 2 to 3 wk before last frost. Sprouts in 4 to 10 days, best at 40 to 80°F soil. Pot up at the first true leaves.
OnionHardyFeb 19 to Mar 5Mar 5 to Mar 18Mar 19 to Apr 2·Indoors 6 to 8 wk before last frost. Transplant 2 to 4 wk before last frost. Sprouts in 7 to 12 days, best at 50 to 95°F soil. Pot up at the first true leaves.
PepperVery tenderFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 29Apr 30·Indoors 6 to 8 wk before last frost. Transplant 2 wk after last frost. Sprouts in 10 to 20 days, best at 65 to 95°F soil. Pot up at the first true leaves.
SquashTender···Apr 16Sow outdoors at last frost. Sprouts in 3 to 12 days, best at 70 to 95°F soil.
TomatoVery tenderFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 29Apr 30·Indoors 6 to 8 wk before last frost. Transplant 2 wk after last frost. Sprouts in 6 to 14 days, best at 60 to 85°F soil. Pot up at the first true leaves.

How to start seeds indoors

Light
Give seedlings 14 to 18 hours of light a day on a timer, with fluorescent or LED fixtures 2 to 6 in above the leaves. Raise the lights as the plants grow.
Clemson HGIC: 16 to 18 hours, tubes 2 to 4 in above. UMD Extension: 14 to 16 hours, 2 to 6 in.
Seed starting mix
Use a sterile, soilless mix, never garden soil. To mix your own, combine equal parts by volume of fine pine bark, sphagnum peat moss and perlite.
NC State Extension Gardener Handbook; Clemson HGIC.
Sowing and warmth
Sow two or three seeds per cell and keep the strongest seedling. A mix temperature of 65 to 75°F germinates most vegetables; after they sprout, 55 to 60°F nights and 65 to 70°F days keep them stocky.
UMD Extension.
Potting up
Move seedlings into larger pots shortly after the first true leaves appear, while they are small and recover quickly.
UMD Extension; Clemson HGIC (one or two sets of true leaves).
Hardening off
Start two to three weeks before transplanting, once plants are about 3 in tall: set them outdoors by day, bring them in before sundown, and give them more direct sun each day. Skip days below 45°F or with strong wind.
Clemson HGIC: 2 to 3 weeks. NC State: at least 2 weeks, not below 45°F.

Zone 7 frost dates

Zone 7 winters reach 0 to 10°F. The NOAA 1991 to 2020 medians across its ZIP codes (4,022 in 7a, 3,047 in 7b) are:

Last frost (average)SaferSafestFirst frost (average)Frost-free days
7aApr 16Apr 23May 3Oct 25191
7bApr 6Apr 12Apr 22Nov 1209

The two halves of zone 7 are further apart than those of zones 4 to 6. 7b's last frost comes 10 days earlier and its first frost 7 days later, which adds up to 18 more frost-free days. So check which half you are in, or use your ZIP code, before copying anyone's calendar. The safest 7b date (Apr 22) falls only 6 days after the average 7a date.

When to start seeds indoors in zone 7

Start indoors = last frost date − weeks indoors

CropWeeks indoors7a sowing7b sowing7a transplant7b transplant
Leek10 to 12Jan 22 to Feb 5Jan 12 to Jan 26
Kale9 to 11Jan 29 to Feb 12Jan 19 to Feb 2Mar 12 to Mar 19Mar 2 to Mar 9
Cabbage8 to 10Feb 5 to Feb 19Jan 26 to Feb 9Mar 26 to Apr 2Mar 16 to Mar 23
Tomato, pepper6 to 8Feb 19 to Mar 5Feb 9 to Feb 23Apr 30Apr 20
Broccoli4 to 6Mar 5 to Mar 19Feb 23 to Mar 9Mar 26 to Apr 2Mar 16 to Mar 23

A zone 7 seed shelf starts in January with leeks and kale and is busiest in February, about two weeks ahead of zone 6.

Transplanting tomatoes safely

At average dates, tomatoes and peppers go out 2 weeks after the last frost: Apr 30 in 7a and Apr 20 in 7b. If a late frost worries you, plan the transplant from a safer date:

  • 7a: May 7 at the safer setting, May 17 at the safest.
  • 7b: Apr 26 at the safer setting, May 6 at the safest.

Zone 7 has room to spare. Even at the safest dates in 7a, peppers set out on May 17 have 147 days before the first frost, far more than the 70 to 85 days they need. No crop in the calculator is flagged as too slow for zone 7. Clemson Extension recommends hardening transplants off for 2 to 3 weeks before they go out.

Fall and a second spring

Zone 7's long fall leaves room for a second sowing of cool-season crops. Counting back from the average first frost:

Crop7a7b
Brussels sproutsby Jun 28by Jul 5
Kale and collardsby Jul 26by Aug 2
Fall peasAug 23 to Aug 30Aug 30 to Sep 6
Last beet sowingAug 30Sep 6

Spring peas are sown outdoors Mar 19 to Apr 2 in 7a and Mar 9 to Mar 23 in 7b, so a single bed can carry peas in spring and again in late summer.

More calendars

Compare zone 6 and zone 8. The planner below starts on 7a; switch to 7b or enter your ZIP code to export your own calendar.