When Is the Last Frost in Tennessee?
The average last spring frost in Tennessee falls between March 29 and April 20 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of April 6. At the average date a later frost is still a coin flip, so tender plants wait for the safer 90% date.
| City | Last frost | 90% safe after | First frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Oct 31 | 213 days |
| Memphis | Mar 16 | Apr 4 | Nov 16 | 244 days |
| Knoxville | Apr 11 | Apr 29 | Oct 28 | 198 days |
| Chattanooga | Mar 24 | Apr 8 | Nov 9 | 230 days |
| Clarksville | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Oct 30 | 203 days |
| Murfreesboro | Apr 9 | Apr 26 | Oct 27 | 202 days |
| Franklin | Apr 15 | May 4 | Oct 26 | 193 days |
| Johnson City | Apr 19 | May 7 | Oct 24 | 187 days |
| Jackson | Apr 2 | Apr 18 | Oct 29 | 207 days |
| Hendersonville | Apr 11 | Apr 26 | Oct 29 | 200 days |
| Collierville | Mar 29 | Apr 15 | Nov 3 | 220 days |
| Lebanon | Apr 10 | Apr 29 | Oct 30 | 202 days |
| Cleveland | Apr 6 | Apr 21 | Oct 30 | 206 days |
| Columbia | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Oct 27 | 199 days |
| Cookeville | Apr 14 | Apr 30 | Oct 25 | 195 days |
| Oak Ridge | Apr 5 | Apr 19 | Nov 1 | 210 days |
| Morristown | Apr 10 | Apr 26 | Oct 28 | 201 days |
| Bristol | Apr 19 | May 7 | Oct 24 | 187 days |
Last and first frost: 50% (median) dates of the last spring and first fall 32 °F night. 90% safe after: only a 10% chance of a later spring frost. First frost dates in January fall in the following winter. Each city uses the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code closest to its center.
Across all 148 Tennessee weather stations with frost records, median last frost dates run from March 16 at Memphis INTL AP, TN to May 22 at Mt Leconte, TN. Elevation, valleys that collect cold air and distance from large water bodies explain most of the spread, so a garden a few miles from a listed city can differ by a week or more. The ZIP code lookup above uses the same NOAA data as the frost date calculator for every US ZIP code.
When Is the First Frost in Tennessee?
The average first fall frost in Tennessee arrives between October 22 and November 5 for most ZIP codes, with a median of October 30. Tomatoes, peppers, basil and squash are damaged at 32 °F, so harvest or cover them before then.
Fall frost can come early: Nashville has a 10% chance of frost before October 18, Memphis has a 10% chance of frost before November 2 and Knoxville has a 10% chance of frost before October 13. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and cabbage tolerate light frosts and keep producing after the first frost date.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Tennessee?
Transplant tomatoes in Tennessee 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 8 – Apr 15 in Nashville, Mar 23 – Mar 30 in Memphis and Apr 18 – Apr 25 in Knoxville. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
| City | Start seeds indoors | Transplant outdoors | Lowest-risk transplant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 15 | after Apr 16 |
| Memphis | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 23 – Mar 30 | after Apr 4 |
| Knoxville | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | after Apr 29 |
| Chattanooga | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 7 | after Apr 8 |
| Clarksville | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | after Apr 26 |
| Murfreesboro | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 23 | after Apr 26 |
| Franklin | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – Apr 29 | after May 4 |
| Johnson City | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 3 | after May 7 |
| Jackson | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 16 | after Apr 18 |
| Hendersonville | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Apr 18 – Apr 25 | after Apr 26 |
| Collierville | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 12 | after Apr 15 |
| Lebanon | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | after Apr 29 |
| Cleveland | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | after Apr 21 |
| Columbia | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | after Apr 26 |
| Cookeville | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 21 – Apr 28 | after Apr 30 |
| Oak Ridge | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 19 | after Apr 19 |
| Morristown | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – Apr 24 | after Apr 26 |
| Bristol | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 3 | after May 7 |
Indoors: 6–8 weeks before the average last frost. Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after it. Lowest-risk: after the date with only a 10% chance of a later frost. Rules of thumb; check the 10-day forecast and wait for soil near 60 °F.
Tomatoes stall below about 50 °F at night and are killed by frost, so a week or two of waiting after the average date costs little. The tomato plant care guide covers light, watering and feeding once plants are in the ground.
What Can You Plant in Nashville and When?
Nashville's average last frost of April 1 anchors its spring planting calendar: peas and spinach go in from February 18, broccoli and lettuce transplants from March 4, and tomatoes, peppers and squash after April 8.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | — | Feb 18 – Mar 4direct sow, 4–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Spinach | — | Feb 18 – Mar 11direct sow, 3–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Radishes | — | Feb 25 – Mar 11direct sow, 3–5 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Onions (sets) | — | Mar 4 – Mar 18plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 4 – Mar 18plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Broccoli & cabbage | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Mar 4 – Mar 18transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Lettuce | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Mar 4 – Mar 18transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Beets | — | Mar 4 – Mar 18direct sow, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Carrots | — | Mar 11 – Mar 18direct sow, 2–3 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Tomatoes | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 15transplant, 1–2 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Basil | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 22transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Peppers | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 22transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Eggplant | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 22transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Green beans | — | Apr 8 – Apr 22direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Sweet corn | — | Apr 8 – Apr 22direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Cucumbers | Mar 4 – Mar 11 | Apr 8 – Apr 22transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Squash & zucchini | Mar 4 – Mar 11 | Apr 8 – Apr 22transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Watermelon | Mar 4 – Mar 11 | Apr 15 – Apr 22transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
Dates for Nashville (last frost Apr 1, NOAA station Shelby Bottoms Nature, TN, 3 miles from ZIP 37219). General rules of thumb; wait for soil near 50 °F for most seeds and 60 °F for beans, corn and squash.
How Long Is the Growing Season in Tennessee?
The frost-free growing season in Tennessee lasts about 184 to 222 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 206 days. Among the listed cities, Johnson City has the shortest season at 187 days and Memphis the longest at 244.
Season length decides which varieties ripen: compare it with the “days to maturity” on seed packets, counted from transplanting for tomatoes and peppers. NOAA stations in Tennessee range from 132 days at Mt Leconte, TN to 244 days at Memphis INTL AP, TN. Planning beds before the season starts helps in short seasons — a plant spacing calculator for vegetable beds shows how many transplants fit.
What Hardiness Zones Are in Tennessee?
Tennessee spans USDA hardiness zones 6b to 8a, with zone 7b the most common. Zones describe winter cold and decide which perennials survive, while frost dates set when to plant annual vegetables and flowers.
The Tennessee planting zone map with the zone of each city shows how the zones are spread across the state and which plants are hardy in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the last frost in Tennessee?
- The average last spring frost in Tennessee falls between March 29 and April 20 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of April 6. Among major cities it ranges from March 16 in Memphis to April 19 in Bristol.
- When is the last frost in Nashville, Tennessee?
- Nashville's average last spring frost is April 1, and by April 16 the chance of a later frost drops to 10%. Its first fall frost averages October 31, giving a 213-day growing season (NOAA station Shelby Bottoms Nature, TN).
- When should you plant tomatoes in Tennessee?
- Transplant tomatoes in Tennessee 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Apr 8 – Apr 15 in Nashville, Mar 23 – Mar 30 in Memphis and Apr 18 – Apr 25 in Knoxville. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- When is the first frost in Tennessee?
- The average first fall frost in Tennessee arrives between October 22 and November 5 for most ZIP codes, with a median of October 30. Harvest tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers and basil before then or cover them on cold nights.
- How long is the growing season in Tennessee?
- The frost-free growing season in Tennessee lasts about 184 to 222 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 206 days, from 187 days in Johnson City to 244 days in Memphis.
Frost data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (32 °F freeze dates by probability). ZIP code and city locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. Planting windows are general rules of thumb. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.