When to plant garlic in Tennessee

Garlic
Fall planting in Nashville
Oct 10–Nov 14

Across Tennessee the window opens between September 30 and October 26. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Nashville
Oct 10–Nov 14
Last frost, Nashville
Apr 1

Plant cloves from 3 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant cloves pointy end up, about 2 inches deep. Roots grow before the ground freezes and leaves come up in spring.

Garlic planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
NashvilleOct 10–Nov 14
MemphisOct 26–Nov 30
KnoxvilleOct 7–Nov 11
ChattanoogaOct 19–Nov 23
ClarksvilleOct 11–Nov 15
MurfreesboroOct 6–Nov 10
FranklinOct 10–Nov 14
Johnson CityOct 3–Nov 7
JacksonOct 8–Nov 12
HendersonvilleOct 8–Nov 12
SmyrnaSep 30–Nov 4
Spring HillOct 11–Nov 15
KingsportOct 8–Nov 12
BartlettOct 15–Nov 19
GallatinOct 2–Nov 6
LebanonOct 7–Nov 11
ColliervilleOct 13–Nov 17
ClevelandOct 9–Nov 13
ColumbiaOct 6–Nov 10
BrentwoodOct 5–Nov 9
Mount JulietOct 14–Nov 18
La VergneSep 30–Nov 4
GermantownOct 17–Nov 21
CookevilleOct 4–Nov 8
Oak RidgeOct 11–Nov 15
MorristownOct 7–Nov 11
MaryvilleOct 12–Nov 16
BristolOct 3–Nov 7
ShelbyvilleOct 8–Nov 12
FarragutOct 11–Nov 15
All 33 cities
CityFall plantingLast frost
NashvilleOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 1
MemphisOct 26 to Nov 30Mar 16
KnoxvilleOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 11
ChattanoogaOct 19 to Nov 23Mar 24
ClarksvilleOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 3
MurfreesboroOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 9
FranklinOct 10 to Nov 14Apr 3
Johnson CityOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 19
JacksonOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 2
HendersonvilleOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 11
SmyrnaSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 13
Spring HillOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 3
KingsportOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 9
BartlettOct 15 to Nov 19Mar 29
GallatinOct 2 to Nov 6Apr 16
LebanonOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 6
ColliervilleOct 13 to Nov 17Mar 29
ClevelandOct 9 to Nov 13Apr 6
ColumbiaOct 6 to Nov 10Apr 10
BrentwoodOct 5 to Nov 9Apr 15
Mount JulietOct 14 to Nov 18Apr 1
La VergneSep 30 to Nov 4Apr 13
GermantownOct 17 to Nov 21Mar 22
CookevilleOct 4 to Nov 8Apr 14
Oak RidgeOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 5
MorristownOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 10
MaryvilleOct 12 to Nov 16Apr 1
BristolOct 3 to Nov 7Apr 16
ShelbyvilleOct 8 to Nov 12Apr 7
FarragutOct 11 to Nov 15Apr 5
East RidgeOct 19 to Nov 23Mar 24
TullahomaOct 9 to Nov 13Apr 6
SpringfieldOct 7 to Nov 11Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant garlic in Tennessee?

In Nashville, fall planting from October 10 to November 14. Across Tennessee the window opens between September 30 and October 26, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Plant cloves from 3 weeks before to 2 weeks after the first fall frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Tennessee

Garlic in other states

Frost dates for every city in Tennessee