When to Plant Garlic in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the time to plant garlic in fall runs from Oct 21 – Nov 18 in Smyrna to Nov 16 – Dec 14 in Memphis. In Nashville-Davidson, it's Oct 31 – Nov 28. The average first fall frost differs by about 4 weeks across the state (Oct 21 in Smyrna, Nov 16 in Memphis), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Garlic is planted in fall, around the first frost, and harvested the next summer. Cloves need a cold winter to form good bulbs.
- Plant: from the first fall frost up to 4 weeks after it.
Garlic planting dates in Tennessee by city
| City | Zone | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|
| Arlington | 8a | Nov 5 – Dec 3 |
| Bartlett | 8a | Nov 5 – Dec 3 |
| Brentwood | 7b | Oct 26 – Nov 23 |
| Bristol | 7a | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Chattanooga | 8a | Nov 9 – Dec 7 |
| Clarksville | 7b | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Cleveland | 7b | Oct 30 – Nov 27 |
| Collierville | 8a | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| Columbia | 7b | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Cookeville | 7a | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Dickson | 7b | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Dyersburg | 7b | Nov 2 – Nov 30 |
| East Ridge | 8a | Nov 9 – Dec 7 |
| Farragut | 7b | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Franklin | 7b | Oct 31 – Nov 28 |
| Gallatin | 7b | Oct 23 – Nov 20 |
| Germantown | 8a | Nov 7 – Dec 5 |
| Greeneville | 7a | Oct 22 – Nov 19 |
| Hendersonville | 7b | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Jackson | 7b | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Johnson City | 7b | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Kingsport | 7b | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Knoxville | 7b | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| La Vergne | 7b | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Lebanon | 7b | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Maryville | 7b | Nov 2 – Nov 30 |
| Memphis | 8a | Nov 16 – Dec 14 |
| Morristown | 7b | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Mount Juliet | 7b | Nov 4 – Dec 2 |
| Murfreesboro | 7b | Oct 27 – Nov 24 |
| Nashville-Davidson | 7b | Oct 31 – Nov 28 |
| Nolensville | 7b | Oct 26 – Nov 23 |
| Oak Ridge | 7b | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Sevierville | 7b | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Shelbyville | 7b | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Smyrna | 7b | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Spring Hill | 7b | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Springfield | 7a | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Tullahoma | 7b | Oct 30 – Nov 27 |
| White House | 7a | Oct 30 – Nov 27 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in Tennessee, or the general guide to when to plant garlic.
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