Local planting guide · Mid-Atlantic
zip 19107
Philadelphia is in USDA hardiness zone 7b, with average winter lows of 5°F to 10°F. The local growing season runs roughly 04/02 through 11/10 (~224 days). This zip falls within the Mid-Atlantic growing region.
- USDA zone
- 7b 5°F to 10°F
- Last spring frost
- 04/02
- First fall frost
- 11/10
- Growing season
- 224 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 occupies USDA hardiness zone 7b, with winter lows between 5 and 10°F. The last spring frost arrives around April 2, and the first fall frost typically occurs around November 10, providing a 224-day growing season. This is a solid window for temperate fruit trees, longer than much of the upper mid-Atlantic but shorter than the Deep South.
The dominant constraint for gardeners here is not extreme cold but summer humidity and fungal disease pressure. The region's relative mildness, partially due to urban heat island effects, moderates temperature swings compared to surrounding suburbs. However, humidity remains high from June through August, creating conditions favorable to fire blight, cedar-apple rust, powdery mildew, and brown rot on stone fruits.
Apples and pears thrive in zone 7b and perform especially well in Philadelphia's microclimate. Peaches, plums (both European and Japanese), and cherries (sweet and sour) are reliable choices. Figs are borderline but manageable with winter protection in most years. The 224-day season is a genuine advantage compared to more rural zone 7b locations in terms of flexibility and multiple harvests.
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
Fungal diseases dominate the challenge landscape. Fire blight strikes pears and apples during humid springs and summers, particularly on susceptible varieties like Bartlett. Cedar-apple rust, brown rot on stone fruits, powdery mildew, and other fungal pathogens exploit the long growing season and high humidity. Late spring frosts pose a secondary but real risk, especially to early bloomers. April 2 is the average last frost date, but frosts can occur into mid-April or early May, particularly after warm spells in late March that trigger early flowering. Japanese beetles can strip foliage in mid-summer if not managed, and deer browsing is common in nearby areas.
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
First, prioritize fire-blight-resistant varieties when selecting pears and apples. Bartlett pears are highly susceptible; varieties like Comice, Bosc, and Seckel offer better resistance and reliable performance in zone 7b. When choosing new trees, disease resistance should be weighted heavily.
Second, plan around the average last frost of April 2 but prepare for later frosts. Frost cloths and row covers are worth keeping accessible in March and April. Monitor the 10-day forecast in early April; late frosts after warm spells are common and can destroy flowers that break dormancy early.
Third, leverage the 224-day growing season strategically. Succession plantings of vegetables and staggered fruit ripening across varieties both become practical here. Plan seeding and planting dates backward from the November 10 first-frost date to ensure later varieties mature before the hard freeze.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best fruit trees for Philadelphia?
Apples, pears, peaches, and both sweet and sour cherries all thrive in zone 7b. Figs are borderline but often survive with winter protection. Fire-blight-resistant pear varieties like Comice and Bosc are more reliable than highly susceptible types such as Bartlett.
- When is the last spring frost in Philadelphia?
The average last frost date is April 2. However, late frosts can occur into mid-April or beyond, especially after warm spells that trigger early bloom. Keep frost protection materials ready through early April.
- What is the biggest disease threat?
Summer humidity from June through August drives fungal diseases, especially fire blight on pears and apples, cedar-apple rust, and powdery mildew. Variety selection for disease resistance and sanitation during humid months matter most.
- How long is the growing season?
Philadelphia has a 224-day growing season from the average last spring frost (April 2) to the first fall frost (November 10). This extended window supports reliable fruit production and multiple plantings of vegetables.
- Can I grow figs in Philadelphia?
Yes, though figs are borderline in zone 7b. They survive most winters with protection such as burlap wrap or mulch mounding, but may die back to the roots in very cold years. South-facing walls and heavy mulch improve survival odds.
- When should I start tomato seeds indoors?
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the average last frost (April 2), typically in late February. Transplant outdoors in mid-April once soil temperatures stabilize above 60°F.
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00013739. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
Related