When to plant pumpkins in zone 7b
In zone 7b, where the last spring frost typically comes around April 5, start pumpkins indoors March 29 to April 12 and plant out April 26 to May 10.
The zone 7b schedule for pumpkins
- Start seeds indoors
- March 29 to April 12
- Plant out
- April 26 to May 10
- Sow outdoors
- April 26 to May 10
- Soil warm enough (60°F), about
- April 26
- First harvest, roughly
- July 5 to August 8
From the median frost dates of the NOAA stations assigned to the 3,025 ZIP codes in zone 7b, and the timing recommended by Cooperative Extension guides for pumpkins.
Frost risk in zone 7b
Zones are based on winter cold, not on frost dates, so the last spring frost varies a lot within a zone. Across zone 7b, the typical last frost ranges from about March 30 in the earliest tenth of ZIP codes to April 17 in the latest tenth, and the first fall frost from October 24 to November 18. For a typical place in the zone:
- March 20Risky: a later frost happens in 9 years out of 10
- April 5Typical: frost after this date in half of years
- April 21Safe: 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 7b cities
| City | Typical last frost | Start indoors | Plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| New York, NY | Mar 30 | Apr 6 to 20 | May 4 to 18 |
| Philadelphia, PA | Mar 30 | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 to May 10 |
| Nashville-Davidson, TN | Mar 31 | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 |
| Oklahoma City, OK | Apr 4 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 |
| Albuquerque, NM | Apr 6 | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 |
| Tulsa, OK | Mar 31 | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 |
| Newark, NJ | Apr 2 | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 |
| Jersey City, NJ | Apr 2 | Apr 7 to 21 | May 5 to 19 |
| Reno, NV | Apr 20 | Apr 17 to May 1 | May 15 to 29 |
| Lubbock, TX | Apr 4 | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 18 to May 2 |
| Richmond, VA | Apr 3 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 21 to May 5 |
| Salt Lake City, UT | Apr 8 | Apr 14 to 28 | May 12 to 26 |
How to grow pumpkinsAll zonesPumpkins in zone 7aPumpkins in zone 8aAbout zone 7b
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