When to plant eggplant in Tennessee

Eggplant
Plant out in Nashville
Apr 15–Apr 29

Across Tennessee the window opens between March 30 and May 3. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Nashville
Jan 21–Feb 4
Plant out, Nashville
Apr 15–Apr 29
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 24
Last frost, Nashville
Apr 1

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Eggplant sulks in cool weather. Black plastic mulch warms the soil.

Eggplant planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
NashvilleApr 15–Apr 29
MemphisMar 30–Apr 13
KnoxvilleApr 25–May 9
ChattanoogaApr 7–Apr 21
ClarksvilleApr 17–May 1
MurfreesboroApr 23–May 7
FranklinApr 17–May 1
Johnson CityMay 3–May 17
JacksonApr 16–Apr 30
HendersonvilleApr 25–May 9
SmyrnaApr 27–May 11
Spring HillApr 17–May 1
KingsportApr 23–May 7
BartlettApr 12–Apr 26
GallatinApr 30–May 14
LebanonApr 20–May 4
ColliervilleApr 12–Apr 26
ClevelandApr 20–May 4
ColumbiaApr 24–May 8
BrentwoodApr 29–May 13
Mount JulietApr 15–Apr 29
La VergneApr 27–May 11
GermantownApr 5–Apr 19
CookevilleApr 28–May 12
Oak RidgeApr 19–May 3
MorristownApr 24–May 8
MaryvilleApr 15–Apr 29
BristolApr 30–May 14
ShelbyvilleApr 21–May 5
FarragutApr 19–May 3
All 33 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
NashvilleJan 21 to Feb 4Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
MemphisJan 5 to Jan 19Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
KnoxvilleJan 31 to Feb 14Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
ChattanoogaJan 13 to Jan 27Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
ClarksvilleJan 23 to Feb 6Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
MurfreesboroJan 29 to Feb 12Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
FranklinJan 23 to Feb 6Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Johnson CityFeb 8 to Feb 22May 3 to May 17Apr 19
JacksonJan 22 to Feb 5Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
HendersonvilleJan 31 to Feb 14Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
SmyrnaFeb 2 to Feb 16Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
Spring HillJan 23 to Feb 6Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
KingsportJan 29 to Feb 12Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
BartlettJan 18 to Feb 1Apr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
GallatinFeb 5 to Feb 19Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
LebanonJan 26 to Feb 9Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
ColliervilleJan 18 to Feb 1Apr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
ClevelandJan 26 to Feb 9Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
ColumbiaJan 30 to Feb 13Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
BrentwoodFeb 4 to Feb 18Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
Mount JulietJan 21 to Feb 4Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
La VergneFeb 2 to Feb 16Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
GermantownJan 11 to Jan 25Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 22
CookevilleFeb 3 to Feb 17Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
Oak RidgeJan 25 to Feb 8Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
MorristownJan 30 to Feb 13Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
MaryvilleJan 21 to Feb 4Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
BristolFeb 5 to Feb 19Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
ShelbyvilleJan 27 to Feb 10Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
FarragutJan 25 to Feb 8Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
East RidgeJan 13 to Jan 27Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
TullahomaJan 26 to Feb 9Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
SpringfieldJan 29 to Feb 12Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant eggplant in Tennessee?

In Nashville, plant out from April 15 to April 29. Across Tennessee the window opens between March 30 and May 3, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–10 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Tennessee

Eggplant in other states

Frost dates for every city in Tennessee