USDA hardiness zone 7a
In zone 7a, the average annual extreme minimum temperature is 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C), based on 1991–2020 data from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
What zone 7a means for your garden
A plant labeled "hardy to zone 7a" should survive a typical winter low of 0°F. Most perennials sold at garden centers are rated for this zone or colder; marginal plants rated one zone warmer can survive in sheltered spots. Zone 7b is the warmer half of zone 7.
ZIP codes in zone 7a: 4,856 in contiguous U.S., 21 in Alaska. New to zones? Read how to read your hardiness zone.
Frost dates in zone 7a
Across 42 major cities in zone 7a, the 30%-risk last spring frost ranges from Apr 2 to May 8 (median Apr 22), and the first fall frost has a median of Oct 21. Frost timing depends on elevation, latitude and distance from water — a zone does not set a frost date, so check your city page for local dates.
Typical planting calendar for zone 7a
Based on the median frost dates above. For your exact dates, use your city page.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Apr 29 – May 13 | — | — |
| Pepper | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Apr 8 – Apr 29 | Mar 25 – May 6 | Aug 12 – Sep 9 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Apr 29 – Jun 3 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Apr 29 – May 27 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Mar 25 – Apr 1 | Apr 29 – May 13 | Apr 29 – May 20 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Cucumber | Mar 25 – Apr 1 | May 6 – May 13 | Apr 29 – May 20 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Carrot | — | — | Apr 1 – May 6 | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Onion | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | — | — |
| Basil | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | May 6 – May 20 | May 6 – May 27 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Mar 11 – Apr 8 | Aug 26 – Sep 23 |
| Kale | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | Aug 12 – Sep 9 |
| Broccoli | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Apr 8 – Apr 29 | — | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Peas | — | — | Mar 11 – Apr 1 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
| Eggplant | Feb 11 – Feb 25 | May 6 – May 20 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Mar 25 – Apr 8 | — | Jul 29 – Aug 12 |
| Radish | — | — | Mar 18 – May 6 | Sep 9 – Oct 7 |
| Strawberry | — | Mar 25 – Apr 15 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Apr 1 – May 13 | Aug 12 – Aug 26 |
Cities in zone 7a (42)
Major cities whose center falls in zone 7a:
- Louisville, KY — last frost Apr 13, first frost Oct 29
- Wichita, KS — last frost Apr 16, first frost Oct 21
- Cleveland, OH — last frost Apr 14, first frost Nov 7
- Lexington, KY — last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 23
- St. Louis, MO — last frost Apr 7, first frost Oct 31
- Boise, ID — last frost Apr 30, first frost Oct 14
- Amarillo, TX — last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 22
- Providence, RI — last frost Apr 17, first frost Oct 24
- Paterson, NJ — last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 22
- Bridgeport, CT — last frost Apr 9, first frost Nov 1
- Meridian, ID — last frost May 5, first frost Oct 6
- Stamford, CT — last frost Apr 23, first frost Oct 16
- New Haven, CT — last frost Apr 22, first frost Oct 20
- Allentown, PA — last frost Apr 26, first frost Oct 17
- Nampa, ID — last frost May 5, first frost Oct 6
- Evansville, IN — last frost Apr 2, first frost Nov 4
- Sparks, NV — last frost May 8, first frost Oct 5
- Spokane Valley, WA — last frost May 1, first frost Oct 7
- Lynn, MA — last frost May 1, first frost Oct 14
- Fayetteville, AR — last frost Apr 11, first frost Oct 25
- New Bedford, MA — last frost May 5, first frost Oct 9
- Yakima, WA — last frost Apr 18, first frost Oct 17
- Orem, UT — last frost Apr 26, first frost Oct 13
- Reading, PA — last frost Apr 21, first frost Oct 22
- Fall River, MA — last frost May 5, first frost Oct 9
- Norwalk, CT — last frost Apr 23, first frost Oct 16
- Lehi, UT — last frost May 8, first frost Oct 2
- Trenton, NJ — last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 21
- Clifton, NJ — last frost Apr 20, first frost Oct 22
- Frederick, MD — last frost Apr 7, first frost Nov 1
- Springdale, AR — last frost Apr 11, first frost Oct 25
- Ogden, UT — last frost Apr 28, first frost Oct 17
- South Jordan, UT — last frost Apr 25, first frost Oct 16
- Layton, UT — last frost Apr 27, first frost Oct 13
- Warwick, RI — last frost Apr 17, first frost Oct 24
- Somerville, MA — last frost Apr 8, first frost Nov 3
- Pasco, WA — last frost May 2, first frost Oct 4
- Bethlehem, PA — last frost Apr 26, first frost Oct 17
- Bowling Green, KY — last frost Apr 11, first frost Oct 26
- Pawtucket, RI — last frost Apr 28, first frost Oct 12
- Charleston, WV — last frost Apr 23, first frost Oct 21
- Huntington, WV — last frost Apr 19, first frost Oct 24
← Zone 6b · Zone 7b → · All zones
Zone 7a questions
How cold does it get in zone 7a?
Zone 7a is defined by an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 0 to 5°F (-17.8 to -15.0°C) for 1991–2020 — the average of each year's single coldest night, not the record low. Individual winters can be colder, so plants rated exactly for zone 7a carry some risk in a severe year.
When is the last frost in zone 7a?
It depends far more on the city than on the zone. Among 42 zone 7a cities on this site, the 30%-risk last spring frost runs from Apr 2 in Evansville, IN to May 8 in Lehi, UT — 36 days apart (median Apr 22).
Which states have zone 7a?
The 2023 listings put 4,877 ZIP codes in zone 7a, spread over 34 states and territories. The most are in Kentucky (728), Pennsylvania (613), West Virginia (416), Virginia (386), New Jersey (339).
Did zone 7a grow on the 2023 map?
Yes: 4,077 ZIP codes were in zone 7a on the 2012 map and 4,877 are on the 2023 map (+800). Of today's zone 7a ZIP codes that were also listed in 2012, 72% were in a colder zone then, 28% were already 7a, and 1% were in a warmer zone. What changed in 2023.
Which big cities are in zone 7a?
The largest cities on this site in zone 7a are Louisville, KY, Wichita, KS, Cleveland, OH; 42 cities in all are listed below.
How long is the growing season in zone 7a?
The median frost-free season across 42 zone 7a cities is 192 days, from 159 days in Lehi to 225 days in Evansville.