Zone 7a planting calendar

What to plant in May: zone 7a

Zone 7a averages its last spring frost around April 15 and its first fall frost around October 25. Everything below is timed from those two dates, so it stays useful whether you're planting for summer or for a fall harvest.

These are zone-average dates. Check an area-level frost estimate from thirty years of nearby weather history and this calendar retimes itself.
Last frost: April 15
First frost: October 25
Winter lows: 0 to 5 °F
Zone 7a Almanac. What growers here actually recorded: sowing weeks, days to first pick, and yields.

Transplant out

  • Sweet Potatoaround May 6

    Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Plant rooted slips, not seed. Wait until soil holds 65F, then let vines sprawl and cure roots at 80F for 10 days before storage: that curing step is what makes them sweet.

  • Eggplantaround May 6

    Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Eggplant sulks in cold soil. Transplant 3 weeks after last frost, not on it. Harvest while skin is glossy: dull skin means bitter, seedy flesh.

  • Okraaround May 6

    Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Okra wants hot soil, 70F+, or seed rots. Pick pods at 3-4 in every other day: one pod left to toughen tells the plant to stop producing.

  • Malabar Spinacharound May 6

    Safe to set out 3 weeks after last frost. Not a true spinach; it's a vigorous heat-loving vine that replaces greens through the hottest weeks other greens can't survive.

Direct sow

  • Okraaround May 6

    Soil is ready 3 weeks after last frost.

  • Winter squasharound May 6

    Warm soil: first summer sowing of winter squash.

  • Beetaround May 13

    Warm soil: first summer sowing of beet.

  • Carrotaround May 13

    Warm soil: first summer sowing of carrot.

Garden care

  • Mulch every bedaround May 6

    3-4 in of straw or leaves now holds water, blocks weeds, and cools roots for the whole summer.

  • Set up deep wateringaround May 13

    Switch to fewer, longer soaks (1-1.5 in/week at the root) instead of daily sprinkles.

  • Side-dress heavy feedersaround May 27

    Tomatoes, peppers, corn and squash get compost or fish emulsion once fruit sets.

Succession sow

  • Bush beanaround May 13

    Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Sweet cornaround May 13

    Sowing 2: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Cucumberaround May 20

    Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Zucchiniaround May 20

    Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Basilaround May 20

    Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Bush beanaround May 27

    Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Winter squasharound May 27

    Sowing 2: replant every 21 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

  • Sweet cornaround May 27

    Sowing 3: replant every 14 days so one planting never has to feed you all season.

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