When to Plant Onions in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the time to plant onions outside runs from Feb 16 – Mar 2 in Memphis to Mar 23 – Apr 6 in Greeneville. In Nashville-Davidson, it's Mar 4 – Mar 18. The average last spring frost differs by about 5 weeks across the state (Mar 16 in Memphis, Apr 20 in Greeneville), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Onions are cold-hardy. Plant sets or transplants early so they grow leaves before long summer days trigger bulbing.
- Start indoors: 10–12 weeks before the last frost.
- Plant outside: 2–4 weeks before the last frost.
Onions planting dates in Tennessee by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Plant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | 8a | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 |
| Bartlett | 8a | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 |
| Brentwood | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Bristol | 7a | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Chattanooga | 8a | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Clarksville | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Cleveland | 7b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Collierville | 8a | Jan 4 – Jan 18 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 |
| Columbia | 7b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Cookeville | 7a | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Dickson | 7b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Dyersburg | 7b | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 |
| East Ridge | 8a | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 |
| Farragut | 7b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Franklin | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Gallatin | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 |
| Germantown | 8a | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Feb 22 – Mar 8 |
| Greeneville | 7a | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Hendersonville | 7b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| Jackson | 7b | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Mar 5 – Mar 19 |
| Johnson City | 7b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 22 – Apr 5 |
| Kingsport | 7b | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Knoxville | 7b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Mar 14 – Mar 28 |
| La Vergne | 7b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Lebanon | 7b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Maryville | 7b | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Memphis | 8a | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 |
| Morristown | 7b | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Mar 13 – Mar 27 |
| Mount Juliet | 7b | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Murfreesboro | 7b | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Nashville-Davidson | 7b | Jan 7 – Jan 21 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Nolensville | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Mar 18 – Apr 1 |
| Oak Ridge | 7b | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Mar 8 – Mar 22 |
| Sevierville | 7b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| Shelbyville | 7b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
| Smyrna | 7b | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 16 – Mar 30 |
| Spring Hill | 7b | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Mar 6 – Mar 20 |
| Springfield | 7a | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 12 – Mar 26 |
| Tullahoma | 7b | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 |
| White House | 7a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 10 – Mar 24 |
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 onions.
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