Nashville, TN planting zone & frost dates
Nashville is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 1 and the first fall frost around October 31, for a growing season of about 213 days.
Planting calendar for Nashville
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 1) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Feb 4 – Feb 18 Transplant outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 15 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Jan 21 – Feb 4 Transplant outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 22 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Jan 21 – Feb 4 Transplant outdoors: Apr 15 – Apr 22 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Jan 21 – Feb 4 Transplant outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Jan 21 – Feb 4 Transplant outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Feb 18 – Mar 4 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Feb 18 – Mar 4 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 15 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 15 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 15 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 15 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 18 – Mar 4 Transplant outdoors: Apr 8 – Apr 15 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 5 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 31).
Useful for zone 7b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Mar 16 | Apr 1 | Apr 16 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 13 | Oct 31 | Oct 18 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 16, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 18. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around March 20.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Nashville
- 37201 zone 7b
- 37202 zone 7b
- 37203 zone 7b
- 37204 zone 7b
- 37205 zone 7b
- 37206 zone 7b
- 37207 zone 7b
- 37208 zone 7b
- 37209 zone 7b
- 37210 zone 7b
- 37211 zone 7b
- 37212 zone 7b
- 37213 zone 7b
- 37214 zone 7b
- 37215 zone 7b
- 37216 zone 7b
- 37217 zone 7b
- 37218 zone 7b
- 37219 zone 7b
- 37220 zone 7b
- 37221 zone 7b
- 37222 zone 7b
- 37224 zone 7b
- 37227 zone 7b
- 37228 zone 7b
- 37229 zone 7b
- 37230 zone 7b
- 37234 zone 7b
- 37235 zone 7b
- 37236 zone 7b
- 37238 zone 7b
- 37241 zone 7b
- 37242 zone 7b
- 37244 zone 7b
- 37246 zone 7b
- 37250 zone 7b
Nearby cities
- Brentwood zone 7b, last frost Apr 15
- Hermitage zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- Goodlettsville zone 7b, last frost Apr 11
- Hendersonville zone 7b, last frost Apr 11
- La Vergne zone 7b, last frost Apr 13
- Franklin zone 7b, last frost Apr 3
- Mount Juliet zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- Smyrna zone 7b, last frost Apr 13
Questions
What growing zone is Nashville, TN?
Nashville is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 7b (average extreme winter low 5°F to 10°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Nashville?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Nashville is April 1. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 16.
When can I plant tomatoes in Nashville?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Apr 8 – Apr 15. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Shelby Bottoms Nature, TN (USC00408238), 5.4 km (3.4 mi) from the city center, elevation 123 m, based on 11 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.