When to plant basil in Tennessee

Basil
Plant out in Nashville
Apr 8–Apr 22

Across Tennessee the window opens between March 23 and April 26. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Nashville
Feb 18–Mar 4
Plant out, Nashville
Apr 8–Apr 22
Sow outdoors, Nashville
Apr 8–Apr 22
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 3
Last frost, Nashville
Apr 1

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Basil blackens below 50°F. Wait a week or two after the last frost.

Basil planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
NashvilleApr 8–Apr 22
MemphisMar 23–Apr 6
KnoxvilleApr 18–May 2
ChattanoogaMar 31–Apr 14
ClarksvilleApr 10–Apr 24
MurfreesboroApr 16–Apr 30
FranklinApr 10–Apr 24
Johnson CityApr 26–May 10
JacksonApr 9–Apr 23
HendersonvilleApr 18–May 2
SmyrnaApr 20–May 4
Spring HillApr 10–Apr 24
KingsportApr 16–Apr 30
BartlettApr 5–Apr 19
GallatinApr 23–May 7
LebanonApr 13–Apr 27
ColliervilleApr 5–Apr 19
ClevelandApr 13–Apr 27
ColumbiaApr 17–May 1
BrentwoodApr 22–May 6
Mount JulietApr 8–Apr 22
La VergneApr 20–May 4
GermantownMar 29–Apr 12
CookevilleApr 21–May 5
Oak RidgeApr 12–Apr 26
MorristownApr 17–May 1
MaryvilleApr 8–Apr 22
BristolApr 23–May 7
ShelbyvilleApr 14–Apr 28
FarragutApr 12–Apr 26
All 33 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
NashvilleFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
MemphisFeb 2 to Feb 16Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
KnoxvilleFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
ChattanoogaFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
ClarksvilleFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
MurfreesboroFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
FranklinFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Johnson CityMar 8 to Mar 22Apr 26 to May 10Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
JacksonFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
HendersonvilleFeb 28 to Mar 14Apr 18 to May 2Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
SmyrnaMar 2 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 13
Spring HillFeb 20 to Mar 6Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
KingsportFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
BartlettFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
GallatinMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
LebanonFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
ColliervilleFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
ClevelandFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
ColumbiaFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
BrentwoodMar 4 to Mar 18Apr 22 to May 6Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
Mount JulietFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
La VergneMar 2 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 13
GermantownFeb 8 to Feb 22Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 22
CookevilleMar 3 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
Oak RidgeFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
MorristownFeb 27 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
MaryvilleFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
BristolMar 5 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
ShelbyvilleFeb 24 to Mar 10Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
FarragutFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
East RidgeFeb 10 to Feb 24Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
TullahomaFeb 23 to Mar 9Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
SpringfieldFeb 26 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant basil in Tennessee?

In Nashville, plant out from April 8 to April 22. Across Tennessee the window opens between March 23 and April 26, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 4–6 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Tennessee

Basil in other states

Frost dates for every city in Tennessee