When to Plant Sweet Alyssum in USDA Zone 7b
What to do in June
We've pulled the most time-sensitive tasks for Zone 7b this June and put them front and centre. Tackle them in order.
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Basket week: sweet alyssum
The more you pick, the more the plant produces. Letting fruit overripen tells the plant it's time to stop.
Looking ahead to July
- First harvests: sweet alyssum
Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) is a low-growing cool-season annual prized for its honey-scented clusters of tiny white, pink, or purple flowers. A workhorse border plant, it tolerates light frost, self-seeds readily, and attracts beneficial insects throughout its bloom season. In warm climates it often re-blooms in fall after summer heat fades.
In Zone 7b, the average last spring frost is around March 18 and the first fall frost is around November 8, giving you a growing season of approximately 235 days.
Sweet Alyssum Planting Timeline — Zone 7b
Where Is USDA Zone 7b?
The map below highlights the states that contain Zone 7b. Click any state to see the Sweet Alyssum planting schedule for that location.
Sweet Alyssum Planting Calendar — Zone 7b
| Activity | When | Date Range |
|---|---|---|
| Start Indoors | February 4 | Feb 4 – Feb 18 |
| Transplant Outdoors | March 18 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Direct Sow | February 18 | Feb 18 – Mar 11 |
| Bloom | April 29 | Apr 29 – Aug 5 |
| Fall Sowing | September 27 | Sep 27 – Oct 11 |
· 6" apart · Rows 8" apart
Month-by-Month Timeline
| Month | Activities |
|---|---|
| January | — |
| February | Start Indoors Direct Sow |
| March | Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow |
| April | Transplant Outdoors Bloom |
| May | Bloom |
| June | Bloom |
| July | Bloom |
| August | Bloom |
| September | Fall Sowing |
| October | Fall Sowing |
| November | — |
| December | — |
Free Zone 7b Planting Calendar PDF
Know exactly when to plant every crop in your zone. Get a printable month-by-month calendar customized for Zone 7b with start dates, transplant windows, and harvest times.
Growing Conditions
Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Low — drought tolerant
Days to Maturity
45–60 days
Soil pH
6 – 7.5
Zone Temperature Range
5°F to 10°F average annual minimum
Growing Season
235 days (Zone 7b average)
Planting Specifications
| Plant Spacing | 6 inches apart |
| Row Spacing | 8 inches between rows |
Succession Planting Sweet Alyssum in Zone 7b
Sow every 5.1 weeks for continuous harvest throughout the season.
Growing Tips for Sweet Alyssum in Zone 7b
Surface-sow seeds — they need light to germinate. Direct-sow as soon as soil can be worked in spring; in zones 7+ also sow in fall. Thin to 6 inches apart. Shear back hard in midsummer when heat causes dormancy — plants recover and re-bloom when cool weather returns. Self-seeds prolifically; allow a few plants to set seed for a perpetual colony.
Companion Planting
Good Companions
The Gardener's Encyclopedia to Companion Planting
The pairings that make vegetables, herbs, and flowers grow better — and the ones that quietly wreck a bed.
- Proven pairings for 200+ vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits
- Full seed-starting + planting schedule with timing and spacing
- Bonus: square-foot gardening guide + printable seasonal planners
Saving Sweet Alyssum Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Related Plants
Sweet Alyssum in Other Zones
Sweet Alyssum by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I plant Sweet Alyssum in Zone 7b?
In Zone 7b, plan your Sweet Alyssum planting around the average last frost date of March 18. Start seeds indoors around February 4. Direct sow outdoors around February 18. Transplant seedlings around March 18.
Can Sweet Alyssum grow in Zone 7b?
Yes, Sweet Alyssum can grow well in Zone 7b, hardy in USDA zones 3a through 11b. Zone 7b has a growing season of approximately 235 days, which is sufficient for Sweet Alyssum (45-60 days to maturity).
When can I harvest Sweet Alyssum in Zone 7b?
In Zone 7b, expect to harvest Sweet Alyssum from April 29 – August 5. Sweet Alyssum takes 45-60 days from planting to harvest.
What is the last frost date for Zone 7b?
The average last spring frost in Zone 7b is around March 18, and the first fall frost is around November 8. This gives a growing season of approximately 235 days. These are 50% probability dates — actual frost dates vary year to year.
What should I plant next to Sweet Alyssum?
Good companion plants for Sweet Alyssum include Lettuce, Broccoli, Strawberries, Tomatoes. These companions can help with pest control, pollination, and nutrient sharing.
Your Zone 7b Garden Planner — Free
A 22-page printable planner tailored to Zone 7b. Planting dates, monthly task lists, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — everything you need to plan a full season.