Vegetable Gardening in Mild Zones 7–8 (USA)

The mid-Atlantic, the upper South and north Texas: a freeze-free season of roughly seven to nearly nine months, which means two cool-season gardens a year, one in spring and one in fall, with hot summers in between.

Frost dates and temperatures are NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals; zones are from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Growing advice is checked against university Cooperative Extension services.

Frost dates and climate in this band

The table gives the median (50%) date of the last 32°F freeze in spring and the first in fall, and the number of freeze-free days between them, for a spread of cities in this band. Half of all years have a later last freeze than the date shown, so treat it as the middle of the risk, not the end of it. Zones describe winter cold, not summer heat.

What grows well here, and what struggles

Hardy cool-season crops can be planted weeks before the last spring frost, and many can be sown again in late summer for a fall harvest. Kale, cabbage and broccoli do well in cool fall weather and stand light frosts.

Okra, southern peas and sweet potatoes are warm-season crops planted for the summer in the South. Summer heat is the limit for tomatoes: they set less fruit when days stay above about 90°F and nights stay warm, which is why spring-planted tomatoes often slow down in July and August.

Garlic is planted in fall and harvested the next summer.

Month by month

What our month guides recommend for this band. Each month links to the full guide.

• January: Zones 7–8: outdoors: Nothing new in most areas, indoors: Plan; the slowest crops (onions, peppers , eggplant) may start late in the month if your last frost is early
• February: Zones 7–8: indoors: Onions, peppers, eggplant; tomatoes once planting out is 5–6 weeks away, outdoors: Cool-season crops in the warmer parts, by local guidance
• March: Zone 7: indoors: Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli , cauliflower, outdoors: Peas, spinach , radishes, turnips, potatoes, leaf lettuce; cabbage transplants; Zone 8: indoors: Harden off transplants, outdoors: Second sowings of quick crops; warm-season crops from the last week of March
• April: Zone 7: outdoors now: Beets , carrots, kale, chard, parsnips; broccoli, cauliflower, lettuce and onion transplants, wait: Beans, squash , corn, tomatoes until May; Zone 8: outdoors now: Beans, corn, squash, cucumbers , melons, okra, peppers, tomatoes, wait: Nothing frost-tender is waiting any more
• May: Zone 7: plant now: Tomato and pepper transplants; beans, sweet corn , squash, cucumbers, melons, notes: Lima beans, okra and southern peas from mid- to late May; Zone 8: plant now: Third plantings of beans, corn, squash , lima beans, notes: Mulch once plants are established
• June: Zone 7: plant now: Snap and lima beans, sweet corn , cucumbers; tomato transplants, also: Start fall broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower indoors; Zone 8: plant now: Sweet potatoes ; a second planting of southern peas, also: Harvest often; clear finished rows
• July: Zone 7: sow or plant now: Carrots, beets , Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, kale, fall lettuce; transplant fall broccoli and cabbage, notes: Start fall leeks indoors early in the month; Zone 8: sow or plant now: Tomatoes, okra, corn, pole and lima beans by July 20; cucumbers, squash, snap beans, notes: Plant a Halloween pumpkin
• August: Zone 7: sow or plant now: Spinach, arugula , radish, turnips, bok choy, lettuce, kohlrabi, kale; transplant fall broccoli, cabbage, leeks; Zone 8: sow or plant now: Snap beans and potatoes by Aug 15; cucumbers and squash by Aug 31, notes: Start fall brassicas and onions in half-shade
• September: Zone 7: sow or plant now: Spinach (early Sept), arugula , radishes (to mid-Sept), bok choy (first week), notes: Garlic follows from mid-October; Zone 8: sow or plant now: Broccoli, cabbage, collards, mustard; lettuce, spinach; carrots, beets , radishes, turnips; onions, notes: Second plantings of collards, turnips, cabbage , mustard, kale
• October: Zones 7–8: plant or sow now: Garlic, mid-October to early November, harvest or protect: Fall greens and brassicas keep cropping
• November: Zones 7–8: plant or sow: Garlic, early in the month, main jobs: Cover fall greens on cold nights
• December: Zones 7–8: sow or plant: Nothing new outdoors, main jobs: Cover hardy greens on cold nights; plan

Crop guides to start with

Guides for the crops that appear most in this band’s month-by-month plantings:

• Lettuce
• Spinach
• Kale
• Collard greens
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Carrots
• Beets
• Swiss chard
• Turnips
• Okra
• Sweet potatoes
• Tomatoes
• Green beans
• Garlic

Weather notes

July average highs in these cities run from the low 80s to the mid 90s°F, and most get 40–50 inches of precipitation a year, so summer heat and humidity, not frost, shape the middle of the year. Even so, vegetables need about an inch of water a week in dry spells.

Back to regional gardening in the USA, or see the USA vegetable planting calendar.

References

• NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (freeze dates, temperature, precipitation)
• USDA Agricultural Research Service and Oregon State University PRISM: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, ZIP code listing
• USDA Agricultural Research Service: How to use the maps (USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map)
• Iowa State University Extension: New plant hardiness zone map released from the USDA
• University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension: Hardiness zone maps
• University of Illinois Extension: Starting a garden: cool-season vegetables
• Penn State Extension: Cool-season vs. warm-season vegetables
• Iowa State University Extension: What’s the difference between cool and warm season veggies?
• Colorado State University Extension: Vegetable planting guide
• University of Illinois Extension: Planting a fall vegetable garden
• Alabama Cooperative Extension System: Basics of fall vegetable gardening
• Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture, Extended Learning: Vegetable gardening in the fall (Garden Box series)
• UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions: Vegetable gardens by season
• University of Georgia Extension: Vegetable garden calendar (C943)
• University of Maryland Extension: Vegetable planting calendar
• UC Agriculture and Natural Resources (Placer County Master Gardeners): Tomato fruit set
• NC State Extension (Hoke County): Tired summer tomatoes
• Purdue University Vegetable Crops Hotline: Understanding high temperature effects on fruit set of tomatoes
• South Dakota State University Extension: Planting garlic
• Penn State Extension: Growing garlic: fall planting
• University of Illinois Extension: How to grow garlic
• Iowa State University Extension: Watering tips for the garden, lawn, and landscape
• University of Illinois Extension: Irrigate gardens to beat summer heat
• Utah State University Extension: Water recommendations for vegetables

Figures in the tables are the official averages named above. Every other statement is supported by at least three of these sources. The month-by-month notes summarise our own month guides, each of which lists its sources. All sources were checked on 24 October 2026.

Last reviewed: 24 October 2026