Frost dates & planting calendar for Memphis, TN
Frost dates
Mar 16
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Apr 4. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Nov 16
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Nov 2. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
244
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
8a
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 10 to 15°F (−12.2 to −9.4°C).
Zone for ZIP 38114, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 8a means.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 244 days. Station: Memphis International Airport, TN, 6 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Feb 7 to Feb 21, then plant them out from Apr 4 to Apr 18.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Apr 4 in spring, Nov 2 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 3 weeks in spring, with more risk.
February
The next window opens in February.
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 18
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 18
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 7 – Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Sow for fall
- Aug 10 – Aug 24
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 7 – Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Sow for fall
- Aug 10 – Aug 24
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 21 – Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Apr 4
- Sow for fall
- Aug 10 – Aug 24
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 14
- Sow for fall
- Aug 10 – Aug 24
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 7
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 28 – Apr 4
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 7
- Start indoors
- Feb 7 – Feb 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 21
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 21
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 21
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Feb 21
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 21
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 21
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
March
The next window opens in March.
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Mar 7
- Start indoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 11
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 7
- Start indoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 11
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Mar 7
- Start indoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 18
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Mar 7
- Start indoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 18
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 18
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Mar 7
- Start indoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 18
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
- Sow for fall
- Aug 10 – Aug 24
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Apr 4
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 7
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 7 – Mar 21
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 14
- Sow for fall
- Aug 10 – Aug 24
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 14
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 14 – Mar 14
- Sow for fall
- Aug 10 – Aug 24
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Apr 4
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Apr 4
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Apr 4
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Apr 4
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 21
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 21 – Mar 28
April
The next window opens in April.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 4
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Apr 4
- Transplant outdoors
- Apr 4 – Apr 4
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 11
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 11 – Apr 18
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Apr 18
- Sow outdoors
- Apr 18 – Apr 18
September
The next window opens in September.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Sep 21
- Sow for fall
- Sep 21 – Sep 21
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.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Memphis?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Memphis is Mar 16. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Apr 4.
- When is the first frost in Memphis?
- The typical first fall frost is Nov 16. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Nov 2.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Memphis?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Feb 7 and Feb 21, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Memphis in?
- Memphis is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 38114, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- Nashville, TN 311 km
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