When to plant collard greens in Tennessee

Collard greens
Plant out in Nashville
Mar 4–Mar 18

Across Tennessee the window opens between February 16 and March 22. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Plant out, Nashville
Mar 4–Mar 18
Fall planting, Nashville
Aug 8–Aug 22
Last frost, Nashville
Apr 1

Plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Collards handle both heat and frost better than most greens.

Collard greens planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
NashvilleMar 4–Mar 18
MemphisFeb 16–Mar 2
KnoxvilleMar 14–Mar 28
ChattanoogaFeb 24–Mar 10
ClarksvilleMar 6–Mar 20
MurfreesboroMar 12–Mar 26
FranklinMar 6–Mar 20
Johnson CityMar 22–Apr 5
JacksonMar 5–Mar 19
HendersonvilleMar 14–Mar 28
SmyrnaMar 16–Mar 30
Spring HillMar 6–Mar 20
KingsportMar 12–Mar 26
BartlettMar 1–Mar 15
GallatinMar 19–Apr 2
LebanonMar 9–Mar 23
ColliervilleMar 1–Mar 15
ClevelandMar 9–Mar 23
ColumbiaMar 13–Mar 27
BrentwoodMar 18–Apr 1
Mount JulietMar 4–Mar 18
La VergneMar 16–Mar 30
GermantownFeb 22–Mar 8
CookevilleMar 17–Mar 31
Oak RidgeMar 8–Mar 22
MorristownMar 13–Mar 27
MaryvilleMar 4–Mar 18
BristolMar 19–Apr 2
ShelbyvilleMar 10–Mar 24
FarragutMar 8–Mar 22
All 33 cities
CityPlant outFall plantingLast frost
NashvilleMar 4 to Mar 18Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 1
MemphisFeb 16 to Mar 2Aug 24 to Sep 7Mar 16
KnoxvilleMar 14 to Mar 28Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 11
ChattanoogaFeb 24 to Mar 10Aug 17 to Aug 31Mar 24
ClarksvilleMar 6 to Mar 20Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 3
MurfreesboroMar 12 to Mar 26Aug 4 to Aug 18Apr 9
FranklinMar 6 to Mar 20Aug 8 to Aug 22Apr 3
Johnson CityMar 22 to Apr 5Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 19
JacksonMar 5 to Mar 19Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 2
HendersonvilleMar 14 to Mar 28Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 11
SmyrnaMar 16 to Mar 30Jul 29 to Aug 12Apr 13
Spring HillMar 6 to Mar 20Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 3
KingsportMar 12 to Mar 26Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 9
BartlettMar 1 to Mar 15Aug 13 to Aug 27Mar 29
GallatinMar 19 to Apr 2Jul 31 to Aug 14Apr 16
LebanonMar 9 to Mar 23Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 6
ColliervilleMar 1 to Mar 15Aug 11 to Aug 25Mar 29
ClevelandMar 9 to Mar 23Aug 7 to Aug 21Apr 6
ColumbiaMar 13 to Mar 27Aug 4 to Aug 18Apr 10
BrentwoodMar 18 to Apr 1Aug 3 to Aug 17Apr 15
Mount JulietMar 4 to Mar 18Aug 12 to Aug 26Apr 1
La VergneMar 16 to Mar 30Jul 29 to Aug 12Apr 13
GermantownFeb 22 to Mar 8Aug 15 to Aug 29Mar 22
CookevilleMar 17 to Mar 31Aug 2 to Aug 16Apr 14
Oak RidgeMar 8 to Mar 22Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 5
MorristownMar 13 to Mar 27Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 10
MaryvilleMar 4 to Mar 18Aug 10 to Aug 24Apr 1
BristolMar 19 to Apr 2Aug 1 to Aug 15Apr 16
ShelbyvilleMar 10 to Mar 24Aug 6 to Aug 20Apr 7
FarragutMar 8 to Mar 22Aug 9 to Aug 23Apr 5
East RidgeFeb 24 to Mar 10Aug 17 to Aug 31Mar 24
TullahomaMar 9 to Mar 23Aug 7 to Aug 21Apr 6
SpringfieldMar 12 to Mar 26Aug 5 to Aug 19Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant collard greens in Tennessee?

In Nashville, plant out from March 4 to March 18. Across Tennessee the window opens between February 16 and March 22, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant out 2–4 weeks before the last frost; sow again for fall 10–12 weeks before the first frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Tennessee

Collard greens in other states

Frost dates for every city in Tennessee