When to plant pumpkins in zone 7a
In zone 7a, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 16, start pumpkins indoors April 7 to 21 and plant out May 5 to 19.
The zone 7a schedule for pumpkins
- Start seeds indoors
- April 7 to 21
- Plant out
- May 5 to 19
- Sow outdoors
- May 5 to 19
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- May 5
- First harvest, roughly
- July 14 to August 17
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 3,981 ZIP codes in zone 7a, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for pumpkins.
Frost risk in zone 7a
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 7a, the typical last frost ranges from about April 5 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 29 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 15 to November 2. For a typical place in the zone:
- April 1Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 16Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- May 3Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
Pumpkins are killed by frost, so if you want to be safe, plant out after the safe date rather than the typical one, or be ready to cover plants on a cold night.
Your dates for pumpkins
Set your ZIP code at the top of the page and we will work out when to plant pumpkins where you live, from the frost records of the nearest NOAA weather station. Your ZIP code is remembered on this device only.
Pumpkins in zone 7a cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Louisville/Jefferson County, KY | Mar 31 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 18 to May 2 |
| Wichita, KS | Apr 11 | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 to May 12 |
| Lexington-Fayette urban county, KY | Apr 13 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 |
| St. Louis, MO | Apr 8 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 to May 10 |
| Amarillo, TX | Apr 13 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 |
| Providence, RI | Apr 11 | Apr 22 to May 6 | May 20 to Jun 3 |
| Paterson, NJ | Apr 3 | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 |
| Bridgeport, CT | Apr 5 | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 |
| Meridian, ID | Apr 24 | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 |
| Stamford, CT | Apr 12 | Apr 20 to May 4 | May 18 to Jun 1 |
| New Haven, CT | Apr 5 | Apr 18 to May 2 | May 16 to 30 |
| Allentown, PA | Apr 20 | Apr 11 to 25 | May 9 to 23 |
How to grow pumpkinsAll zonesPumpkins in zone 6bPumpkins in zone 7bAbout zone 7a
Sources
- How to Grow Pumpkins in Your Garden · Utah State University Extension
- All about Pumpkins · Iowa State University Extension and Outreach
- Pumpkins & Winter Squash (HGIC 1318) · Clemson Cooperative Extension Home & Garden Information Center
- Pumpkin and Squash Harvest and Storage · University of Vermont Extension
- Vegetable Planting Guide (CMG GardenNotes #720) · Colorado State University Extension
- Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Squash, and Melons (Fact Sheet 7.609) · Colorado State University Extension
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (VH021), Table 1 · University of Florida IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension