Zone 7a Frost Dates and Planting Schedule

In USDA zone 7a, the typical last frost is April 16 and the typical first frost is October 25: the medians across its 4,629 ZIP codes, from NOAA 1991–2020 normals at the station nearest each one.

By HarvestMath Editors October 1, 2026 Share:

Typical first fall frost

Oct 25

range Oct 13 to Nov 4

Typical last spring frost

Apr 16

range Apr 3 to May 2

Median and 10th to 90th percentile across 4,629 ZIP codes in zone 7a, from each ZIP code's nearest NOAA station (1991–2020 normals). The spread is 29 days in spring.

A hardiness zone is a winter-cold rating: the average coldest night of the year. It doesn't predict when frost ends in spring. Two ZIP codes in zone 7a can be weeks apart on their last frost, so the dates here are a typical range, not your date.

Your exact frost dates

Find your dates by

US ZIP code

Enter a ZIP code or pick your hardiness zone to see your frost dates.

Zone 7a Planting Schedule

Typical for zone 7a, counted from the zone's typical Apr 16 last frost and Oct 25 first frost with the Season Planner's crop timing. Enter your ZIP code for your exact dates.

Typical for zone 7a

Feb 19–Mar 5 Start tomatoes indoors

Tomato seed needs 6 to 8 weeks under lights before it goes out.
Mar 5–Mar 19 Sow peas outdoors

Peas take cold soil and light frost in stride.
Mar 19–Apr 2 Sow leaf lettuce outdoors

Sow again every 2 to 3 weeks for a steady supply.
Apr 23–Apr 30 Transplant tomatoes and peppers

Once nights stay above 50°F.
Apr 23–Apr 30 Sow bush beans

Beans rot in cold soil: wait for 60°F at 4 inches deep.
Aug 2–Aug 16 Sow a fall crop

Kale, carrots, spinach or lettuce, 10 to 12 weeks before the first fall frost.
Nov 1–Nov 8 Plant garlic

Cloves go in 1 to 2 weeks after the first killing frost, for next summer.

Zone 7a Cities and Their Frost Dates

Same zone, different dates: each city's own station.

St. Louis, MO:last frost Apr 8, first Oct 26
Boston, MA:last frost Apr 4, first Nov 9
Louisville, KY:last frost Mar 31, first Nov 7
Boise, ID:last frost Apr 24, first Oct 21
Cleveland, OH:last frost Apr 8, first Nov 12
Long Island, NY:last frost Apr 10, first Nov 2
Spokane, WA:last frost Apr 26, first Oct 12
Wichita, KS:last frost Apr 11, first Oct 29

Zone 7a Frost FAQ

When is the last frost in zone 7a?

Typically around April 16, but it ranges from April 3 to May 2 across the zone's ZIP codes (10th to 90th percentile). Enter your ZIP code for your own station's date.

When is the first frost in zone 7a?

Typically around October 25, ranging October 13 to November 4 across zone 7a.

When do you plant tomatoes in zone 7a?

Typically Apr 23 to Apr 30, a week or two after the zone's typical last frost. Your own last frost can be weeks either side of that.

Neighboring Zones

Zone 7a covers ZIP codes in Arkansas, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia.

A garden in a zone 7a climate — An illustration of a zone 7a garden.

Free book · 23 pages, PDF

The Spacing & Planting Cheat Sheet

When to start, when to plant, how far apart.