Seed Starting Timeline (Zone 7a)

Your month-by-month guide from cozy indoor starts to thriving beds 🌿

In Zone 7a (hello, Jersey Shore friends! 👋), the gardening year is anchored by an average last spring frost in mid-April and an average first fall frost in early November. Use those bookends to plan your sowing. This guide gives you a clear, beginner-friendly timeline: what to start indoors, when to direct-sow outside, and how to pace your season.

Quick anchor dates: Plan around a target last frost ~April 10–20 and first frost ~Nov 1–10. Adjust a week or two for your exact microclimate.

Count Back from Your Last Frost (Mid-April)

Use the chart below to time indoor sowing and transplants. “LSF” = last spring frost.

When	Start Indoors	Direct-Sow Outdoors	Notes
1–12 wksbefore LSFlate Jan–early Feb	Onions (seed), leeks, celery		Long lead-time crops;bright light essential.
8–10 wksbefore LSFmid–late Feb	Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, chardflowers: snapdragon		Cool-season brassicas like a head start.
6–8 wksbefore LSFlate Feb–early Mar	Tomatoes, lettuce, parsley; flowers: marigold	Peas, spinach, radisharugula if soil workable	Sow peas outdoors once soil is ~40–45°F.
4–6 wksbefore LSFmid–late Mar	Peppers, eggplant, basil (warmth + grow lights)	Carrots, beets, turnips, more spinach/lettuce	Bottom heat (75–80°F) speeds pepper/eggplant germination.
2–4 wksbefore LSFlate Mar–early Apr	Cucumbers* (optional), summer squash* (optional), zinnias*	Potatoes, scallions, cilantro, dill; succession radish/lettuce	*Start in large cells; they dislike root disturbance.
1 to 2 wks after LSFmid–late Apr	Harden off 7–10 days prior	Beans, corn once soil warms; direct cucumbers/squash	Protect with row cover if nights dip below 50°F.
2–4 wksafter LSFApr- May		Melons, okra, sunflowers; second sowing of beans/corn	Warm soil = faster germination and fewer setbacks.

Month-by-Month Snapshot (Zone 7a)

Jan–Feb

Start onions/leeks/celery indoors. Inventory seeds, set up lights, test germination on older seed.

March

Start brassicas, tomatoes, and herbs indoors. Direct-sow peas, spinach, and radish when soil is workable.

April

Harden off transplants. After last frost, plant beans, corn, cucumbers, and squash. Protect on chilly nights.

May

Transplant tomatoes/peppers/eggplant. Direct-sow melons/okra/sunflowers. Mulch 2–3″ to conserve water.

June–July

Succession-sow beans, corn, cucumbers. Start fall brassicas indoors late July (6–8 wks before Sept transplant).

Aug–Sept

Transplant fall brassicas. Direct-sow carrots, beets, spinach for fall harvest. Start lettuce every 2 weeks.

Oct–Nov

Finish fall plantings early Oct. Add row covers for frost. Plant garlic late Oct–Nov for next summer harvest.

Hardening Off (The Week that Saves Your Season)

7–10 days before transplant, place seedlings outdoors in dappled shade for 2–3 hours; bring in at night.
Increase sun and wind exposure daily; keep soil evenly moist.
Transplant on a cloudy day or late afternoon; water deeply and mulch.

Tip: A simple low tunnel (hoops + row cover) buys you a few degrees of protection in spring and fall.

Quick Crop Guide (Zone 7a Favorites)

Crop	Start Indoors	Transplant/Direct-Sow	Notes
Tomato	6–8 wks before LSF	After LSF (soil 60°F+)	Harden off; mulch; stake early.
Pepper / Eggplant	8–10 wks before LSF w/ heat mat	1–2 wks after LSF (nights 55°F+)	Love warmth; slow to start.
Cucumber / Squash	2–3 wks before LSF (optional)	At/after LSF (or direct-sow)	Use large cells; minimal root disturbance.
Beans / orn		Direct-sow after LSF (warm soil)	Succession every 2–3 weeks.
Lettuce / Greens	4–6 wks before LSF	Direct-sow 4–6 wks before LSF onward	Bolt-prone in heat; partial shade helps.
Carrot / Beet		Direct-sow 4–6 wks before LSF	Fine seed; keep surface evenly moist.
Broccoli / Cabbage / Kale	8–10 wks before LSF (spring) & late July (fall)	Transplant 2–4 wks before LSF (spring) & Sept (fall)	Row cover helps with pests.
Herbs (Basil, Parsley, Dill)	Basil 4–6 wks; Parsley 8–10 wks; Dill direct-sow	Basil after LSF; Dill anytime cool; Parsley before/after LSF	Basil loves heat; dill prefers cool shoulder seasons.

Seed-Starting Basics (Success Boosters)

Light: 14–16 hours/day under grow lights keeps seedlings sturdy.
Heat: 70–75°F air; 75–80°F soil for peppers/eggplant.
Airflow: A small fan reduces damping-off disease.
Watering: Keep mix evenly moist; bottom-water when possible.
Feeding: Start a half-strength fertilizer 2–3 weeks after germination.
Potting up: Move into larger cells when roots fill starter cells.

Printable Mini-Checklist

Find your exact frost dates; set LSF in mid-April, adjust locally.
Count back weeks; schedule indoor sowing on your calendar.
Harden off 7–10 days before transplanting.
Mulch after planting and set up drip/soaker lines.
Succession-sow greens and beans every 2–3 weeks for steady harvests.

Seed Starting Timeline (Zone 7a)

Count Back from Your Last Frost (Mid-April)

1–12 wksbefore LSFlate Jan–early Feb

Onions (seed), leeks, celery

Long lead-time crops;bright light essential.

8–10 wksbefore LSFmid–late Feb

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, chardflowers: snapdragon

Cool-season brassicas like a head start.

6–8 wksbefore LSFlate Feb–early Mar

Tomatoes, lettuce, parsley; flowers: marigold

Peas, spinach, radisharugula if soil workable

Sow peas outdoors once soil is ~40–45°F.

4–6 wksbefore LSFmid–late Mar

Peppers, eggplant, basil (warmth + grow lights)

Carrots, beets, turnips, more spinach/lettuce

Bottom heat (75–80°F) speeds pepper/eggplant germination.

2–4 wksbefore LSFlate Mar–early Apr

Cucumbers* (optional), summer squash* (optional), zinnias*

Potatoes, scallions, cilantro, dill; succession radish/lettuce

*Start in large cells; they dislike root disturbance.

1 to 2 wks after LSFmid–late Apr

Harden off 7–10 days prior

Beans, corn once soil warms; direct cucumbers/squash

Protect with row cover if nights dip below 50°F.

2–4 wksafter LSFApr- May

Melons, okra, sunflowers; second sowing of beans/corn

Warm soil = faster germination and fewer setbacks.

Month-by-Month Snapshot (Zone 7a)

Jan–Feb

March

April

May

June–July

Aug–Sept

Oct–Nov

Hardening Off (The Week that Saves Your Season)

Quick Crop Guide (Zone 7a Favorites)

Crop

Start Indoors

Transplant/Direct-Sow

Notes

Tomato

6–8 wks

before LSF

After LSF

(soil 60°F+)

Harden off;

mulch; stake early.

Pepper / Eggplant

8–10 wks

before LSF

w/ heat mat

1–2 wks after LSF

(nights 55°F+)

Love warmth;

slow to start.

Cucumber / Squash

2–3 wks

before LSF

(optional)

At/after LSF

(or direct-sow)

Use large cells;

minimal root

disturbance.

Beans / orn

Direct-sow

after LSF

(warm soil)

Succession every

2–3 weeks.

Lettuce / Greens

4–6 wks

before LSF

Direct-sow 4–6 wks

before LSF onward

Bolt-prone in heat;

partial shade helps.

Carrot / Beet

Direct-sow 4–6 wks