When to Plant Tomatoes in Tennessee
In Tennessee, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Mar 23 – Apr 6 in Memphis to Apr 27 – May 11 in Greeneville. In Nashville-Davidson, it's Apr 8 – Apr 22. 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.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in Tennessee by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arlington | 8a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Bartlett | 8a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Brentwood | 7b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Bristol | 7a | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Chattanooga | 8a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Clarksville | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Cleveland | 7b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Collierville | 8a | Feb 1 – Feb 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 |
| Columbia | 7b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Cookeville | 7a | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Apr 21 – May 5 |
| Dickson | 7b | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Dyersburg | 7b | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | Apr 4 – Apr 18 |
| East Ridge | 8a | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Farragut | 7b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Franklin | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Gallatin | 7b | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 23 – May 7 |
| Germantown | 8a | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Mar 29 – Apr 12 |
| Greeneville | 7a | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 27 – May 11 |
| Hendersonville | 7b | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| Jackson | 7b | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | Apr 9 – Apr 23 |
| Johnson City | 7b | Feb 22 – Mar 8 | Apr 26 – May 10 |
| Kingsport | 7b | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Knoxville | 7b | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Apr 18 – May 2 |
| La Vergne | 7b | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Lebanon | 7b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Maryville | 7b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Memphis | 8a | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Mar 23 – Apr 6 |
| Morristown | 7b | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Apr 17 – May 1 |
| Mount Juliet | 7b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Murfreesboro | 7b | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Nashville-Davidson | 7b | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | Apr 8 – Apr 22 |
| Nolensville | 7b | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Apr 22 – May 6 |
| Oak Ridge | 7b | Feb 8 – Feb 22 | Apr 12 – Apr 26 |
| Sevierville | 7b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| Shelbyville | 7b | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
| Smyrna | 7b | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Apr 20 – May 4 |
| Spring Hill | 7b | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Springfield | 7a | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Apr 16 – Apr 30 |
| Tullahoma | 7b | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 27 |
| White House | 7a | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Apr 14 – Apr 28 |
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 tomatoes.
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