Local planting guide · Mid-Atlantic
zip 19115
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 sits in USDA zone 7b, where winter lows typically reach 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. The frost calendar is straightforward: April 4 for the last spring frost and November 7 for the first fall frost, providing a 216-day growing season. This length is generous enough for stone fruits, pome fruits, and even figs with proper site selection. The real constraint is summer humidity.
The Delaware region's moisture and the city's urban heat island effect create ideal conditions for fungal diseases. Apple scab, cedar-apple rust, and powdery mildew thrive in these conditions, making variety selection critical. Growers succeed with disease-resistant apples and pears far more reliably than with standard cultivars. Peaches, plums, and both sweet and sour cherries perform well when chosen for hardiness and disease tolerance.
Spring frost timing adds another layer. Warm spells in March often trigger early dormancy break, then April freezes damage new growth. Late-blooming apples and pears fare better than early bloomers in this climate. Growing season length is not limiting; humidity and frost timing are the dominant constraints.
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 are recurring. Warm March weather breaks dormancy early; then April frosts clip new growth and buds. Peach buds and early-leafing apple varieties suffer first. A mild March and hard April frost is common enough that variety selection should account for it.
Fungal disease pressure is relentless in Philadelphia's humid summers. Apple scab, cedar-apple rust, and powdery mildew spread rapidly from May through September. Standard apple varieties like Red Delicious struggle without preventive work. Even low-spray growers must manage disease actively here. Japanese beetles and brown marmorated stink bugs are also heavier than in less urban areas, particularly in midsummer.
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
Delay frost-sensitive plantings until well after April 4 to avoid setbacks from late freezes. Tomato seeds started indoors should go to transplanted beds no earlier than mid-April; direct seeding waits until late April. A surprise freeze in early April can set back a whole season of earliness.
Choose disease-resistant apple and pear varieties. Liberty, Priscilla, Jonafree, and Maxine are proven in zone 7b humidity. Resistant varieties cost slightly more than standard cultivars but save season-long spraying effort and deliver cleaner fruit. For peaches and plums, newer disease-resistant releases outperform old standards in the Mid-Atlantic.
Use the 216-day season for succession planting. Direct sow beans in late April, then again in June for fall harvest. Plant cool-season greens (spinach, arugula) in late August for November and December picking. The long season supports two or three cycles of quick crops; plan succession sowing in late spring and midsummer to extend the harvest window.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best fruit trees to grow in Philadelphia?
Apples, pears, peaches, and both sweet and sour cherries thrive in zone 7b. Prioritize disease-resistant varieties; Liberty and Priscilla apples, Reliance peaches, and Montmorency cherries handle the humid climate reliably.
- When should I start tomato seeds or set out transplants?
Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before April 4 (the last frost date). Set seedlings outside only after mid-April when soil has warmed. Direct seeding can begin in late April once frost risk drops.
- What's the biggest weather risk in Philadelphia gardening?
Late spring freezes. March warmth often triggers early bloom or leaf-out, then April frosts damage flowers and tender new growth. Choose later-blooming varieties and monitor forecasts for surprise freeze events in April.
- Why do fungal diseases seem worse here than elsewhere?
High humidity from summer moisture and the urban environment create persistent conditions for apple scab, cedar-apple rust, and mildew. Resistant varieties, pruning for air circulation, and thoughtful site selection are essential; chemical-free growing is harder here than in drier zones.
- Can I grow figs successfully in Philadelphia?
Yes, with protection. Zone 7b winters can damage fig wood, so plant in a sheltered south-facing spot, mulch heavily, or grow in containers moved indoors in winter. Chicago Hardy and Celeste are the most winter-hardy cultivars.
- What can I harvest in November before the first frost?
The November 7 first frost date allows leafy greens, brassicas, and root crops planted in late July or August to mature. Spinach, kale, arugula, and carrots all thrive in cool fall weather.
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
+−
Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00094732. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
Related