Frost dates & planting calendar for Nashville, TN
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.
7b
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 5 to 10°F (−15.0 to −12.2°C).
Zone for ZIP 37219, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 7b means.
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).
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 19 to Mar 5, then plant them out from Apr 16 to Apr 30.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Apr 16 in spring, Oct 18 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 2 weeks in spring, with more risk.
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.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Nashville?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Nashville is Apr 1. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Apr 16.
- When is the first frost in Nashville?
- The typical first fall frost is Oct 31. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Oct 18.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Nashville?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Feb 19 and Mar 5, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Nashville in?
- Nashville is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 37219, 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
- Louisville, KY 244 km
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