Local planting guide · Mid-Atlantic
zip 19101
Philadelphia is in USDA hardiness zone 7b, with average winter lows of 5°F to 10°F. The local growing season runs roughly 04/04 through 11/07 (~216 days). This zip falls within the Mid-Atlantic growing region.
- USDA zone
- 7b 5°F to 10°F
- Last spring frost
- 04/04
- First fall frost
- 11/07
- Growing season
- 216 days
- Compatible crops
- 83
- Growing region
- Mid-Atlantic
Right now in Philadelphia
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Philadelphia
Philadelphia's zone 7b climate combines a relatively late spring frost date with challenging summer humidity. The last spring frost typically arrives around April 4, later than much of the broader zone, but summer heat and moisture create ideal conditions for fungal diseases. This combination rewards gardeners who prioritize disease-resistant varieties and careful timing over raw climate hardiness.
Fruit trees thrive here, particularly apples, pears, and stone fruits. Historical orchard regions nearby (Lancaster County and the Hudson Valley just north) demonstrate the zone's fruit-growing potential. The 216-day growing season is sufficient for most temperate crops, though early-blooming varieties of peaches and cherries often fall victim to late April frosts. Summer humidity, rather than winter cold, is the dominant constraint; fungal diseases like fire blight and brown rot are persistent pressures that dictate variety selection more heavily than winter hardiness alone.
Regional context · Mid-Atlantic
What the Mid-Atlantic brings to Philadelphia
Transition zone between North and South. Apples, peaches, grapes, and blueberries do well; long enough warm season for tomatoes and peppers, cool enough winter for stone-fruit chill.
Common challenges
Issues that most often defeat home gardeners in zone 7b, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ Cedar-apple rust pressure heavy in piedmont
- ▸ Japanese beetles
- ▸ Brown marmorated stink bug
- ▸ Late summer disease pressure
What defeats new gardeners in Philadelphia
Late-spring freezes frequently damage early-blooming stone fruits, particularly peaches and cherries, in Philadelphia. Buds that survive winter arrive at bloom by late March, and April frost events still regularly occur, wiping out the season's crop. Fire blight, a bacterial disease exacerbated by humidity, is the second major threat to apples and pears; it spreads during bloom and warm, wet springs, making infected branch removal labor-intensive.
Summer humidity also drives fungal diseases like brown rot on stone fruits and apple scab when rain follows warm periods. These pressures mean that disease-resistant cultivars are not a luxury but a practical necessity for reliable crops.
Crops that grow in Philadelphia
83 crops from our catalog match zone 7b, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
15 crops
zone 7b Apple
Malus domestica
zones 3a–9a
zone 7b Pear
Pyrus communis
zones 4a–8b
zone 7b Peach
Prunus persica
zones 5a–9a
zone 7b European Plum
Prunus domestica
zones 4a–8a
zone 7b Japanese Plum
Prunus salicina
zones 5b–9a
zone 7b Sweet Cherry
Prunus avium
zones 5a–8a
zone 7b Sour Cherry
Prunus cerasus
zones 4a–7b
zone 7b Fig
Ficus carica
zones 7a–10b
Berries
12 crops
zone 7b Highbush Blueberry
Vaccinium corymbosum
zones 4a–7b
zone 7b Rabbiteye Blueberry
Vaccinium virgatum
zones 7a–9a
zone 7b Red Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
zones 3b–8a
zone 7b Black Raspberry
Rubus occidentalis
zones 4a–8a
zone 7b Yellow Raspberry
Rubus idaeus
zones 3b–8a
zone 7b Blackberry
Rubus subgenus Rubus
zones 5a–9a
zone 7b June-Bearing Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa
zones 3a–8b
zone 7b Everbearing Strawberry
Fragaria x ananassa
zones 3b–9a
Nuts
6 crops
Vegetables
40 crops
zone 7b Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 7b Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 7b Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 7b Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 7b Potato
Solanum tuberosum
zones 3a–9a
zone 7b Cabbage
Brassica oleracea var. capitata
zones 3a–9b
zone 7b Broccoli
Brassica oleracea var. italica
zones 3a–9a
zone 7b Cauliflower
Brassica oleracea var. botrytis
zones 3b–9a
Herbs
10 crops
zone 7b Basil
Ocimum basilicum
zones 4a–10b
zone 7b Parsley
Petroselinum crispum
zones 3b–9b
zone 7b Cilantro / Coriander
Coriandrum sativum
zones 3b–9b
zone 7b Dill
Anethum graveolens
zones 3b–9a
zone 7b Oregano
Origanum vulgare
zones 4a–9b
zone 7b Thyme
Thymus vulgaris
zones 4a–9a
zone 7b Rosemary
Salvia rosmarinus
zones 7a–10b
zone 7b Sage
Salvia officinalis
zones 4a–9a
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Philadelphia
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Philadelphia's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Philadelphia, PA (zone 7b)
Quiet week in Philadelphia, PA (zone 7b). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
418 bars · 83 crops
Calendar logic combines NOAA frost normals with crop-specific timing data. Local microclimate and weather always overrules the calendar; use this as a starting point.
Top pests for zone 7b
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for IPM controls and signs to watch for.
Multiple species (Aphididae)
Small soft-bodied sap-sucking insects that reproduce explosively in spring. Excrete honeydew that supports sooty mold and attracts ants. Transmit viral diseases.
Odocoileus species
Whitetail and mule deer browse can devastate orchards and gardens, particularly in winter when food is scarce. Antler rub on young trunks kills saplings outright.
Sylvilagus and Lepus species
Cottontails and jackrabbits strip bark from young fruit trees in winter and graze tender garden vegetables year-round, especially seedlings.
Popillia japonica
Defoliating beetle introduced to North America in 1916. Skeletonizes leaves of many fruit trees, berry canes, and pecan.
Multiple species (Chrysomelidae)
Tiny black or bronze jumping beetles that put hundreds of small holes in seedling leaves. Most damaging on direct-seeded brassicas and young eggplant.
Microtus species
Field voles and meadow voles girdle young fruit-tree trunks under snow cover during winter and chew root crops. The leading cause of mysterious orchard losses.
Meloidogyne species
Microscopic soil-dwelling worm that forms galls on roots, reducing vigor and yield.
Tetranychus urticae
Tiny mite that feeds on leaf undersides, causing stippling and webbing during hot dry weather.
Top diseases for zone 7b
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for symptoms, controls, and resistant varieties.
Pseudoperonospora cubensis (cucurbits) and others
Water mold (oomycete, not a true fungus) that thrives in cool damp conditions. Spreads rapidly through cucurbit and brassica plantings on wind-borne spores.
Pythium and Rhizoctonia species
Soil-borne complex of water molds and fungi that kill seedlings before or shortly after emergence. The single most common cause of seed-starting failures.
Cucumber mosaic virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, and others
Family of plant viruses producing mottled yellow-and-green leaf patterns. Vectored primarily by aphids; some are seed-transmitted or spread by handling tools and tobacco products.
Botrytis cinerea
Ubiquitous fungal disease that causes fruit rot during cool wet weather, often the dominant berry disease in humid regions.
Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Soil-borne bacterium that enters plants through wounds and induces tumor-like galls on roots, crown, and lower stems. Galls reduce vigor and shorten plant lifespan; on Rubus the disease is often fatal.
Fusarium oxysporum
Soil-borne fungal disease that plugs vascular tissue and kills affected plants. Persists in soil for many years; impossible to eliminate once established.
Sclerotium rolfsii
Soil-borne fungal disease most damaging in warm humid Southern conditions. White mycelial fans and small mustard-seed-sized sclerotia at the soil line are diagnostic.
Plasmodiophora brassicae
Soil-borne disease causing characteristic distorted club-shaped roots on brassicas. Persists in soil for 10-20 years; the dominant brassica pathogen in acidic poorly-drained soils.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 7b.
- Peach + Garlic
Garlic planted around peach trees suppresses peach borer and provides general fungal-pressure reduction.
- European Plum + Garlic
Garlic discourages plum curculio and provides general antifungal benefit beneath stone fruit.
- Fig + Rosemary
Rosemary tolerates the dry sites figs prefer and provides aromatic pest deterrence.
- American Persimmon + Pawpaw
Both natives thrive in similar soils and contribute to a polyculture that supports native pollinators and fauna.
- Jujube + Thyme
Thyme groundcover suits jujube's low-water profile and deters cabbage moth and aphid populations.
- Apricot + Basil
Basil's volatile oils discourage stone-fruit pests and support pollinator visits.
Soil types reference
Soil texture and pH decide what grows easily on your specific lot. Find the closest match below for crop recommendations and amendment guidance.
Practical tips for Philadelphia
Select late-blooming apple and pear varieties to avoid the April 4 frost window; Braeburn, Gala, and Bosc are more reliable than earlier bloomers like Jonagold in this area. For stone fruits, choose fire blight-resistant or tolerant rootstocks and scion cultivars; modern disease-bred selections far outperform old heirlooms.
Second, prune aggressively in late fall and winter to improve air circulation through the canopy. This reduces humidity-driven fungal disease pressure and makes it easier to spot and remove fire blight strikes before they spread. Space trees wider than minimum spacing if feasible.
Third, delay warm-season crops like tomatoes until mid-May, despite the April 4 frost date. Late April and early May often bring cool, wet spells that stall transplants and invite fungal issues; mid-May plantings catch up within weeks and avoid weather-driven disease losses.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruit trees grow best in Philadelphia?
Apples and pears are most reliable, followed by sour cherries, which tolerate humidity better than sweet cherries. Peaches and Japanese plums can succeed in favorable years but face late April frost risk. Disease-resistant modern cultivars consistently outperform heirlooms in this climate.
- When is it safe to plant tomatoes and other warm-season crops?
The last frost date is April 4, but waiting until mid-May is more practical. Late April and early May bring lingering cool spells and moisture that slow transplant growth and invite fungal disease. Mid-May plantings actually catch up within weeks.
- Why do my peaches and cherries bloom but then freeze?
Stone fruit buds break dormancy by late March in Philadelphia, but spring frosts still occur regularly through April. Choosing late-blooming cultivars and avoiding exposed, low-lying planting sites (where cold air settles) reduces losses. Even so, occasional crop failure is normal.
- Is fire blight a major concern in Philadelphia?
Yes, significantly. The warm, humid springs combined with the prevalence of apples and pears make fire blight common. Selecting resistant cultivars, pruning for air circulation, and promptly removing infected branches are essential management tools.
- Should I use overhead watering in summer?
No, avoid it. Humidity means fungal disease spreads readily when foliage is wet. Water at soil level in early morning instead. During dry spells, occasional deep watering matters, but overhead sprinklers usually cause more disease than they prevent.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00094732. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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