Roadmap for when to plant for Zone 7 garden

Saturday, March 17, 2018

This is a road map for when to plant vegetables and herbs for a Zone 6/7 garden.  I am using April 28th as my last frost date.  You can also use the extended forecast to know if you can move up your plantings due to unseasonably warmer weather.

Planting your seedlings outdoors:

March 31st-cabbage, leeks, lettuce, okra, onions

April 7th-lettuce, lemon balm, parsley, chives

April 14th-broccoli, cauliflower, thyme

April 21st-sage, rosemary 

May 5th-basil, chives, cucumbers, tomatoes, 

May 12th-cantaloupe, eggplant, marigolds, pepper, squash, zucchini

Starting your seeds indoors:

March 3rd-chives, eggplant, leeks, lemon balm, marigolds, onions, parsley, peppers, sage, thyme, tomatoes

March 17th-basil, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, okra

March 31st-cantaloupe, cucumber, lettuce, squash, zucchini

These dates are just guidelines.  You can always start your seedlings later and plant your transplants later as well.  Be sure to read the seed packet for what you are starting.  They make all kinds of varieties that are cold hardy that can be planted sooner.

Johnny's seeds has a neat calculator that you can put in your last frost date and it will spit out when to plant for every variety  Seed planting schedule 

They also have bred many varieties of cold crops that are more heat resistant than others.  These would be the types to plant or start later to have a longer harvest.  Look for terms like heat tolerant, stands up to the heat, slow to bolt.  This time of year I look for varieties that are more heat tolerant as it won't be long before we are seeing days hit the upper 70's and lower 80's.