Tennessee frost dates
Typical and safer frost dates for 2 cities in Tennessee, each from its nearest NOAA station. Elevation matters here as much as latitude, so check the city closest to you.
| City | Last frost · typical | Last frost · safer | First frost · typical | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nashville | Apr 1 | Apr 16 | Oct 31 | 213 |
| Memphis | Mar 16 | Apr 4 | Nov 16 | 244 |
Planting calendar for Nashville
The largest city we cover in Tennessee. Other cities: see their own page.
Frost dates
Apr 1
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 16. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Oct 31
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Oct 18. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
213
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 213 days. Station: Shelby Bottoms Nature, TN, 6 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
February
The next window opens in February.
Peppertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 5
- Start indoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 30
Parsleyhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 5
- Start indoors
- Feb 5 – Feb 19
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 16
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 19
- Start indoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 30
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 19
- Start indoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 30
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 19
- Start indoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Sow for fall
- Jul 26 – Aug 9
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 19
- Start indoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Sow for fall
- Jul 26 – Aug 9
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 19
- Start indoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Apr 16
- Sow for fall
- Jul 26 – Aug 9
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 19
- Start indoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Mar 26
- Sow for fall
- Jul 26 – Aug 9
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 19
- Start indoors
- Feb 19 – Feb 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 19
- Start indoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 9 – Apr 16
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 19
- Start indoors
- Feb 19 – Mar 5
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
March
The next window opens in March.
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 5
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Apr 2
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 5
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 5 – Apr 2
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Mar 5
- Start indoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 5
- Start indoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 5
- Start indoors
- Mar 5 – Mar 19
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 19
- Start indoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 23
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 19
- Start indoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 23
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 19
- Start indoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 30
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 19
- Start indoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 30
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 30
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 19
- Start indoors
- Mar 19 – Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 30
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
- Sow for fall
- Jul 26 – Aug 9
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 16
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 19 – Apr 2
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Mar 26
- Sow for fall
- Jul 26 – Aug 9
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 26
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 26 – Mar 26
- Sow for fall
- Jul 26 – Aug 9
April
The next window opens in April.
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 16
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 16
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 16
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 16
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 2
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 2 – Apr 9
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 16
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 16
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 16 – Apr 16
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 23
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 23 – Apr 30
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 30
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 30 – Apr 30
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 6
- Sow for fall
- Sep 6 – Sep 6
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.