You need to find your local extension service online to see what they say!

I am 7b also and there is a lot that I can plant now, but your 7b may be different!

I linked my EXT below if that will help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Clemson EXT

Agree with wertach. The location you're in is much more important than zone in this case.

Rodney

I'm in Northern Virginia. Haven't really used extensions before. I'll check it out.

I'm in Northern Virginia (Alexandria). Haven't used an extension before but I'll look for it. Thanks!

That's exciting to all of a sudden have a new plot!

Do you need it to all produce during the summer, or are you open to fall crops, too?

I don't know about melons/pumpkins in your zone -- but you may do better with seeds than the rootbound plants.

One thing you can plant now and get harvests in September, and that takes a lot of room is sweet corn.
Now that will impress the folks in your community garden!

If you can find sweet potato plants, they've still got time, and grow well in the heat.

I'll look forward to what those from your zone have to say.

OK, so....I found it but I don't see a list of what to plant when. Any ideas? Should I call?

http://offices.ext.vt.edu/alexandria/

Sorry to be so helpless - I'm new to this.

I googled "Alexandria VA Vegetable Planting Guide" and came up with lots of hits. In addition to the Clemson link already provided, here's another one from Farmer's Almanac. Looks like you've got lots of things to choose from. Congrats and good luck!

http://www.almanac.com/gardening/planting-dates/VA/Alexandria

Thank you guys! That's perfect.

I am very open to fall crops (although I'm getting married this fall so I don't know how much time I'll have to tend to it during the fall).

I could happily fill half the plot with winter squash. Corn is a great idea too.

Thanks! Will research and report back.

Ah -- I grew up in Northern Va, and still do a little planting at my parent's house there.

Personally, I'd stick some seeds in the ground for the vining squash and melons and see what happens, and in the mean time plant some other stuff in between them in case they don't work.

Brainstorming . . .You can plant bush beans now, and basil. I still think the sweet corn is a fun idea (in a section of its own), but if you've got clay, like my parents do, the sweet potatoes might not work great.
I'm wondering if you can start fall hardy crops like kale, cabbage, kolrabi, turnips, (which I've never done in that zone -- does the heat mess them up?)

Still plenty of time in zone 6a for beans, cukes, summer squashes, turnips, kale, collards, lettuces, beets, carrots, a wide variety of Asian greens, Asian radishes, and probably a number of other things I've forgotten. I just started (in starter cells) savoy cabbages for winter harvest. They'll go into the garden end of July/early August.

Still plenty of time in zone 6a for beans, cukes, summer squashes, turnips, kale, collards, lettuces, beets, carrots, a wide variety of Asian greens, Asian radishes, and probably a number of other things I've forgotten. I just started (in starter cells) savoy cabbages for winter harvest. They'll go into the garden end of July/early August.

Thank you guys!

I found some decent looking cantaloupe starter packs yesterday and a few tomatoes that hadn't started fruiting, so I bought those. Plus a few other random plants that looked ok - an eggplant, a pepper, a few other things. I'll put all those in and start some hills of squash and watermelons. Hopefully I'll get something wtih all that. Of course my fear now is eveything comes in and I am overun with produce :)