When to Plant Peppers in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the time to transplant peppers outside runs from Mar 30 – Apr 13 in Memphis to May 4 – May 18 in Greeneville. In Nashville-Davidson, it's Apr 15 – Apr 29. 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.
Peppers need even more warmth than tomatoes. Start them early indoors and set them out once the soil has warmed, two to four weeks after the last frost.
- Start indoors: 8–10 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 2–4 weeks after the last frost.
Peppers planting dates in Tennessee by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | 8a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Bartlett | 8a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Brentwood | 7b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Bristol | 7a | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Chattanooga | 8a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Clarksville | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Cleveland | 7b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Collierville | 8a | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Columbia | 7b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Cookeville | 7a | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Apr 28 – May 12 |
| Dickson | 7b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Dyersburg | 7b | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Apr 11 – Apr 25 |
| East Ridge | 8a | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 |
| Farragut | 7b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Franklin | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Gallatin | 7b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 30 – May 14 |
| Germantown | 8a | Jan 11 – Jan 25 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Greeneville | 7a | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | May 4 – May 18 |
| Hendersonville | 7b | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| Jackson | 7b | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Johnson City | 7b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | May 3 – May 17 |
| Kingsport | 7b | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Knoxville | 7b | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 25 – May 9 |
| La Vergne | 7b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Lebanon | 7b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Maryville | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Memphis | 8a | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 |
| Morristown | 7b | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Apr 24 – May 8 |
| Mount Juliet | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Murfreesboro | 7b | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Nashville-Davidson | 7b | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Apr 15 – Apr 29 |
| Nolensville | 7b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 29 – May 13 |
| Oak Ridge | 7b | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Apr 19 – May 3 |
| Sevierville | 7b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Shelbyville | 7b | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Smyrna | 7b | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Spring Hill | 7b | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Springfield | 7a | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Tullahoma | 7b | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| White House | 7a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
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 peppers.
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