Last spring freeze
Apr 1
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Mar 16 – Apr 16
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after Apr 16.
Nashville, TN · NOAA frost dates
Nashville frost dates & planting calendar
Last spring freeze ~Apr 1, first fall freeze ~Oct 31: a median of 213 frost-free days. The calendar below is already set to Nashville (ZIP 37203). Type your own ZIP for the station nearest you.
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Nashville, TN · ZIP 37203 · try yours
Nashville TN area
Last spring frost
~Apr 1
safer: Apr 16
First fall frost
~Oct 31
safer: Oct 18
Growing season
213
frost-free days
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall planting
- Harvest
Median dates from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. Averages, not forecasts. How it works
NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals
Nashville frost dates at a glance
32°F freeze dates for the Shelby Bottoms Nature, TN weather station, 6 km from ZIP 37203, 123 m up.
First fall freeze
Oct 31
median (50%)
8 in 10 years Oct 18 – Nov 13
Only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 18.
Growing season
213
median frost-free days
USDA zone 7a
Station: Shelby Bottoms Nature, TN
Long-term averages, not a forecast. Your yard can run one to three weeks off these dates, so check the 10-day forecast before planting out.
Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F freeze probabilities: 10%, 50%, 90%). Public domain. How we use it
Planting dates for Nashville
When to plant in Nashville
Worked out from the median frost dates (and, for warm-season crops, NOAA’s normal night lows) with the same crop rules as the calendar below. Tap any crop there for its dates.
-
Tomatoes
- Start indoors
- Feb 21 – Mar 7
- Transplant out
- Apr 25 – May 16
Frost alone would allow transplanting from Apr 8, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about Apr 25, so they go out then, started indoors 9 weeks before. Transplant when nights stay above 50°F (10°C).
-
Peppers
- Start indoors
- Jan 31 – Feb 14
- Transplant out
- Apr 25 – May 9
Frost alone would allow transplanting from Apr 15, but the normal night low here only reaches 50°F (10°C) about Apr 25, so they go out then, started indoors 12 weeks before. Loves warm soil, 65°F+ (18°C+).
-
Peas
- Sow outside
- Feb 18 – Mar 11
- Fall sowing
- Aug 22 – Sep 5
3–6 weeks before the last frost, and again 8–10 weeks before the first fall frost. Sow as soon as soil can be worked (40°F/4°C+).
-
Lettuce
- Sow outside
- Mar 4 – Apr 15
- Fall sowing
- Sep 5 – Oct 3
From 4 weeks before to 2 weeks after the last frost, and 4–8 weeks before the first fall frost. Bolts in heat; sow small batches often.
-
Garlic
- Plant cloves
- Oct 17 – Nov 21
- Harvest
- Jun 3 – Jun 24, next year
2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant cloves in fall; harvest next summer when lower leaves brown.
This week
Right now in your garden
Full year
Your planting calendar
- Start indoors
- Sow outside
- Transplant
- Fall sowing / planting
- Harvest
- Harvest the season after planting
- Est. frost date
No crops match. Try another search, or clear “My picks”.
Tap ☆ to add a crop to your picks. Tap a crop name for exact dates and growing notes. Your picks and location are saved on this device.
Straight answers
Frost questions
When is the last frost in Nashville?
The median last spring freeze (32°F) at NOAA’s Shelby Bottoms Nature, TN station is Apr 1, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Mar 16 and Apr 16, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze after Apr 16.
When is the first fall frost in Nashville?
The median first fall freeze (32°F) is Oct 31. In 8 of 10 years it falls between Oct 18 and Nov 13, and there is only a 1-in-10 chance of a freeze before Oct 18. That leaves a median of 213 frost-free days.
When should I plant tomatoes in Nashville?
Using FrostLine’s crop rules with the median last frost of Apr 1 and NOAA’s normal night lows: start tomato seeds indoors Feb 21 – Mar 7 and transplant them outside Apr 25 – May 16. Frost alone would allow Apr 8, but nights here only average 50°F (10°C) from about Apr 25.
Are these dates a forecast?
No. They are long-term averages, not a forecast for this year. Your own garden can differ by one to three weeks with elevation, slope, wind and how built-up it is. Check the 10-day forecast before setting out tender plants, and enter your own ZIP for the nearest station.
How it works: each ZIP is matched to the nearest NOAA station with freeze records. More on our method.
Frost dates by city
More frost dates by city
Each page opens the same free calendar, set to that city. Or start from the home page.
- CO · zone 6a Denver Last frost ~Apr 30First frost ~Oct 12 165 frost-free days
- IL · zone 6b Chicago Last frost ~Apr 10First frost ~Nov 5 209 frost-free days
- WA · zone 9a Seattle Last frost ~Mar 13First frost ~Nov 17 249 frost-free days
- GA · zone 8a Atlanta Last frost ~Mar 24First frost ~Nov 8 229 frost-free days
- TX · zone 8a Dallas Last frost ~Mar 2First frost ~Nov 29 272 frost-free days
- MN · zone 4b Minneapolis Last frost ~Apr 23First frost ~Oct 16 176 frost-free days
- OR · zone 8b Portland Last frost ~Feb 25First frost ~Dec 1 279 frost-free days
- MA · zone 7a Boston Last frost ~Apr 4First frost ~Nov 9 219 frost-free days
- UT · zone 7a Salt Lake City Last frost ~Mar 31First frost ~Nov 8 222 frost-free days