Warm Temperate

What Can Grow in Zone 7b

Warm temperate climate with ~180 day season. Extended growing season enables succession planting and year-round vegetable production in tunnels.

Zone 7b has average winter lows of 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12°C). You can grow tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and many more plants. The frost-free growing season lasts about 180 days.

5°FWinter Low
10°FWinter High
180 daysFrost-Free
March 15Last Frost
October 1First Frost
🥕 Vegetables
tomatoes peppers eggplant okra sweet potatoes cucumbers watermelon collards
🍎 Fruits
peaches figs plums grapes strawberries muscadines blackberries pawpaws
🌿 Herbs
basil thyme oregano sage rosemary mint cilantro lemongrass bay
🌸 Flowers
marigolds zinnias dahlias lantana black-eyed Susans camellia azalea
🌳 Trees & Shrubs
Southern magnolia live oak crepe myrtle dogwood wax myrtle longleaf pine
💡 Planting Tips

Plant warm crops by mid-March. Extend fall season well into November. Grow cool crops all winter with minimal protection.

🌱
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📍 States in Zone 7b
North CarolinaGeorgiaTennesseeOklahomaTexasArkansasNew MexicoArizona
🔀 Neighboring Zones
7a8a

Frequently Asked Questions

USDA Zone 7b has average annual minimum temperatures of 5°F to 10°F (-15°C to -12°C). This temperature range determines which perennial plants can survive winter outdoors.

The average last frost date in Zone 7b is around March 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around October 1. This gives a frost-free growing season of approximately 180 days.

Zone 7b is well-suited for tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, okra, sweet potatoes, cucumbers. Plant warm crops by mid-March. Extend fall season well into November. Grow cool crops all winter with minimal protection.

Fruits that thrive in Zone 7b include peaches, figs, plums, grapes, strawberries, muscadines. Always check that specific cultivars are hardy to your zone before planting perennial fruit trees and shrubs.