Local planting guide · Mid-Atlantic
zip 19112
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's zone 7b climate offers a relatively long growing season spanning 224 days from the April 2 last spring frost to November 10 first fall frost, but the city's humidity and proximity to Atlantic moisture create distinct management challenges. The urban heat island effect and sustained moisture favor fungal diseases, particularly apple scab, powdery mildew, and fire blight. This distinguishes Philadelphia gardening from drier inland zone 7b regions.
Stone fruits and pears thrive here. Peaches, European plums, Japanese plums, and sour cherries are reliable producers. Sweet cherries, despite their later bloom timing, perform well in the Philadelphia climate. Apples do well when disease-resistant varieties are selected; many heirloom cultivars struggle without intensive fungicide programs.
Figs are feasible with winter protection, though not as reliably cold-hardy as the stone fruits. The 224-day season provides ample time for fruit maturation and harvest, but consistent fungal disease pressure makes variety selection non-negotiable. Growers who prioritize disease resistance or implement dormant spray programs succeed; those who ignore fungal management face significant losses.
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
Philadelphia gardeners contend with three recurring problems. First, fungal disease pressure from high humidity and frequent spring rain is far more severe than in drier parts of zone 7b. Apple scab, powdery mildew, and fire blight spread aggressively in warm, wet springs. Early-season fungicides or inherently disease-resistant varieties are essential, not optional.
Second, the April 2 last frost date masks a real risk: late frosts in early April are common enough to damage early-blooming cherries and plums. Many orchardists lose crops to unexpected freezes after warm spells in late March.
Third, high humidity and summer heat stress young trees, particularly in dense urban microclimates. Heat-stressed trees become susceptible to pest damage and secondary infections.
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
When selecting apples and pears, disease-resistant cultivars are mandatory in Philadelphia. Research varieties bred for scab and mildew resistance; many traditional heirlooms perform poorly here without intensive management. Upfront variety selection avoids years of fungicide dependency.
Second, use simple frost-protection tools for tender crops. Overhead sprinkler irrigation activated just before a late frost can provide 2 to 4 degrees of frost protection on calm nights. Row covers and frost cloths protect newly planted trees and early-spring seedlings.
Third, adjust planting timing for the local climate. Starting vegetable seeds indoors in February rather than mid-March gets spring crops established before sustained moisture arrives in May. Succession plantings of lettuce, peas, and leafy crops thrive in the cooler spring and fall; summer-sown fall crops extend the productive season from late August through November.
Frequently asked questions
- What fruit trees grow best in Philadelphia?
Apples, pears, peaches, plums (European and Japanese), and both sweet and sour cherries thrive in Philadelphia's zone 7b. Select disease-resistant apple and pear varieties to manage fungal pressure from the area's humidity. Figs are possible with winter protection.
- When should I start tomato seeds indoors for Philadelphia?
Start seeds indoors in mid-March to transplant seedlings outdoors around May 1 to May 15, well after the April 2 last frost date. Philadelphia's warm May weather accelerates growth, and early May planting gives tomatoes ample time to mature before the November 10 first fall frost.
- How do I protect fruit trees from late April frosts?
Overhead sprinkler irrigation activated the night before an expected frost can provide 2 to 4 degrees of protection. Select late-blooming apple and pear varieties to avoid early-season frost damage. Avoid planting tender crops like peach in frost-prone low spots.
- What's the biggest weather challenge for Philadelphia gardeners?
High humidity and frequent spring rain create severe fungal disease pressure, particularly for apples and pears. Apple scab and powdery mildew spread aggressively. Choose disease-resistant varieties or commit to dormant spray programs starting in spring.
- Can I grow figs successfully in Philadelphia?
Yes, but with winter protection. Fig trees can survive zone 7b's lows of 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit with mulching, burlap wrap, or planting against a warm south-facing wall. Cold-hardy cultivars improve odds of winter survival.
- What's the difference between European and Japanese plums for Philadelphia?
Both perform well in Philadelphia. European plums typically ripen earlier and are hardier to cold; Japanese plums often have larger fruit and require cross-pollination from another Japanese variety. Choose based on fruit size preference and available space for pollinators.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00013739. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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