Last frost date in Nashville, TN

Average last frost
April 1

The average last frost in Nashville is April 1. By April 16 the chance of another 32°F night drops to 1 in 10. The first fall frost usually arrives about October 31, which leaves 213 frost-free days. An early freeze before October 18 happens one year in ten.

Safe after (10% risk)
Apr 16
Average first frost
Oct 31
Frost-free season
213 days
Hard freeze (28°F) ends
Mar 20
Next 7 nights in Nashville

No frost in the next 7 nights

National Weather Service forecast, updated Oct 22, 12:57 UTC

  1. ThuOct 2247°
  2. FriOct 2346°
  3. SatOct 2448°
  4. SunOct 2547°
  5. MonOct 2648°
  6. TueOct 2751°
  7. WedOct 2848°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost Apr 1First frost Oct 31213 frost-free daysBlue: chance of 32°F frost. Green: average frost-free season.JFMAMJJASOND213 frost-free days
Frost risk through the year at Shelby Bottoms Nature, 3.4 miles from Nashville.

Planting calendar for Nashville

Windows count forward or back from the average frost dates above. Click a crop for dates across Tennessee.

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
Warm-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
TomatoesApr 8–Apr 22
PumpkinsApr 15–Apr 29
SunflowersApr 1–Apr 22
CucumbersApr 15–Apr 22
CornApr 8–Apr 22
Sweet potatoesApr 22–May 6
WatermelonApr 15–Apr 29
Green beansApr 8–Apr 29
ZucchiniApr 8–Apr 22
OkraApr 22–May 6
PeppersApr 15–Apr 29
BasilApr 8–Apr 22
Butternut squashApr 8–Apr 22
CantaloupeApr 15–Apr 29
EggplantApr 15–Apr 29
Cool-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PotatoesMar 4–Mar 18
OnionsFeb 18–Mar 11
CarrotsMar 11–Apr 15
LettuceMar 18–Apr 8
BroccoliMar 4–Mar 18
BeetsMar 4–Apr 15
PeasFeb 18–Mar 4
CabbageMar 4–Mar 18
RadishesFeb 25–Apr 8
Brussels sproutsMar 18–Apr 1
SpinachFeb 18–Mar 11
CilantroMar 18–Apr 8
KaleMar 4–Mar 18
Collard greensMar 4–Mar 18
TurnipsMar 4–Mar 18
DillApr 1–Apr 15
CeleryApr 8–Apr 15
CauliflowerMar 18–Apr 1
LeeksMar 18–Apr 1
Swiss chardMar 18–Apr 15
ParsleyMar 18–Apr 8
Fall bulbs and garlic
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Tulip bulbsOct 17–Nov 21
GarlicOct 10–Nov 14
Daffodil bulbsOct 3–Nov 14
Perennials
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
StrawberriesMar 4–Mar 18
AsparagusMar 4–Mar 18

Frost probabilities

ThresholdSpring, 90% chance laterSpring, 50%Spring, 10%Fall, 10% chance earlierFall, 50%Fall, 90%
Light frost, 32°FMar 16Apr 1Apr 16Oct 18Oct 31Nov 13
Hard freeze, 28°FMar 2Mar 20Apr 5Oct 26Nov 9Nov 25

Read the spring 10% column as the date after which only one year in ten still gets frost. That is the safer date for tomatoes, peppers and basil.

Where these numbers come from

NOAA station Shelby Bottoms Nature (USC00408238) sits 3.4 miles from the center of Nashville at 405 feet. Its averages cover 1991 to 2020. Low spots, valleys and open fields can keep getting frost a week or two after the station stops; city centers and lakeshores usually get less of it.

Questions

When is the last frost in Nashville, TN?

The average last frost date in Nashville is April 1, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. There is a 10% chance of frost after April 16.

When is the first frost in Nashville?

The first frost in fall usually comes around October 31. One year in ten it arrives before October 18.

How long is the growing season in Nashville?

About 213 days between the average last and first frost.

When should I plant tomatoes in Nashville?

Plant tomato seedlings outside from April 8 to April 22. Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks earlier.

Nearby in Tennessee

All 33 cities in Tennessee