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USDA Zone 7

Mild winters and a long summer. Year-round growing is possible with cool-season crops.

Climate Overview

What to expect

  • Mild winters with occasional hard freezes
  • Frost-free window of roughly 180 to 210 days
  • Last frost early-to-mid April; first frost late October to November
  • Cool-season crops can grow through much of the winter

What Grows Well

TomatoesPeppersEggplantOkraBeansSquashCucumbersMelonsSweet potatoesBrassicasGreensAll herbs

Seeds To Stock

  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Okra
  • Beans
  • Squash
  • Cucumbers
  • Melons
  • Sweet potatoes
  • Broccoli
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Carrots
  • Beets
  • Peas
  • Garlic
  • Onions

Direct Sow Suggestions

  • Peas
  • Spinach
  • Lettuce
  • Radishes
  • Carrots
  • Beets
  • Beans
  • Corn
  • Squash
  • Okra

Tray Start Suggestions

  • Tomatoes
  • Peppers
  • Eggplant
  • Cucumbers
  • Squash
  • Broccoli
  • Onions

Monthly Planning

Current month is highlighted. Click any month to see the plan.

USDA Zone 7

JuneThis month

Plant Now

  • Beans (succession)
  • Cucumbers
  • Summer squash
  • Basil
  • Sunflowers

Start In Trays

  • Fall brassicas

Harvest

  • Peas
  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Beets

Prepare Next

  • Succession-sow greens
  • Stake tomatoes

Common Challenges

Watch out for

  • Late spring frost surprises
  • Summer heat and humidity
  • Disease pressure in wet climates
  • Timing two growing seasons

Near Anderson, Redding, or Red Bluff, California? Our local guides go a lot deeper than this zone overview.

What To Do Next

Turn zone knowledge into an actual planting plan.

Zone pages help with broad timing. The planner and growing tips list help you turn that timing into a season you can use.

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Open the Garden Planner

Use your zone as the starting point for a crop list, plant counts, and garden space planning.

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Local Guides

If you garden near Anderson, Redding, or Red Bluff, the local guides go deeper than zone-only advice.

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