Planting guide

What to plant in Zone 7 in March

USDA Zone 7 · US Northern Hemisphere March

March is the busiest planting month of the zone 7 spring. The soil is workable most weeks, last frosts are a few weeks away (late March to mid April across the zone), and every hardy crop can go in now. The warm-season crops stay indoors until the frost has passed.

Plant now

Seed potatoesSolanum tuberosum

Mid-March is the traditional time, often on St. Patrick's Day. Plant 2-4 weeks before your last frost.

PeasPisum sativum

Sow early in the month if not already in; later sowings run into summer heat.

Lettuce, spinach, kale, radish, carrots, beets

Direct-sow now, and again every two weeks for a steady harvest.

Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower transplants

Harden off and plant out 2-4 weeks before your last frost; they handle a light frost.

Onion sets or transplantsAllium cepa

Plant early in the month so they grow leaves before the days lengthen enough to start bulbing.

Tomatoes (seed, indoors)Solanum lycopersicum

Sow early in the month for transplants 6-8 weeks old in late April.

Timing notes

  • Look up the average last frost for your own town; the zone number is a winter-minimum band, not a planting date.
  • Harden off indoor-grown seedlings for 7-10 days before planting out: a few hours outside at first, building to a full day and night.
  • Tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash wait until after the last frost and until the soil reaches about 60°F (16°C). A warm week in March is not the all-clear.
Frost dates and a seed-starting schedule for your ZIP code Free calculator from NOAA station records: last spring frost, first fall frost, and what to start each week. ← All planting guides