When to plant okra in Tennessee

Okra
Sow outdoors in Nashville
Apr 22–May 6

Across Tennessee the window opens between April 6 and May 10. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Nashville
Apr 22–May 6
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 13
Last frost, Nashville
Apr 1

Sow outdoors 3–5 weeks after the last frost. Okra wants hot soil and hot nights. It is one of the last crops to go in.

Okra planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
NashvilleApr 22–May 6
MemphisApr 6–Apr 20
KnoxvilleMay 2–May 16
ChattanoogaApr 14–Apr 28
ClarksvilleApr 24–May 8
MurfreesboroApr 30–May 14
FranklinApr 24–May 8
Johnson CityMay 10–May 24
JacksonApr 23–May 7
HendersonvilleMay 2–May 16
SmyrnaMay 4–May 18
Spring HillApr 24–May 8
KingsportApr 30–May 14
BartlettApr 19–May 3
GallatinMay 7–May 21
LebanonApr 27–May 11
ColliervilleApr 19–May 3
ClevelandApr 27–May 11
ColumbiaMay 1–May 15
BrentwoodMay 6–May 20
Mount JulietApr 22–May 6
La VergneMay 4–May 18
GermantownApr 12–Apr 26
CookevilleMay 5–May 19
Oak RidgeApr 26–May 10
MorristownMay 1–May 15
MaryvilleApr 22–May 6
BristolMay 7–May 21
ShelbyvilleApr 28–May 12
FarragutApr 26–May 10
All 33 cities
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
NashvilleApr 22 to May 6Apr 1
MemphisApr 6 to Apr 20Mar 16
KnoxvilleMay 2 to May 16Apr 11
ChattanoogaApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 24
ClarksvilleApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
MurfreesboroApr 30 to May 14Apr 9
FranklinApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
Johnson CityMay 10 to May 24Apr 19
JacksonApr 23 to May 7Apr 2
HendersonvilleMay 2 to May 16Apr 11
SmyrnaMay 4 to May 18Apr 13
Spring HillApr 24 to May 8Apr 3
KingsportApr 30 to May 14Apr 9
BartlettApr 19 to May 3Mar 29
GallatinMay 7 to May 21Apr 16
LebanonApr 27 to May 11Apr 6
ColliervilleApr 19 to May 3Mar 29
ClevelandApr 27 to May 11Apr 6
ColumbiaMay 1 to May 15Apr 10
BrentwoodMay 6 to May 20Apr 15
Mount JulietApr 22 to May 6Apr 1
La VergneMay 4 to May 18Apr 13
GermantownApr 12 to Apr 26Mar 22
CookevilleMay 5 to May 19Apr 14
Oak RidgeApr 26 to May 10Apr 5
MorristownMay 1 to May 15Apr 10
MaryvilleApr 22 to May 6Apr 1
BristolMay 7 to May 21Apr 16
ShelbyvilleApr 28 to May 12Apr 7
FarragutApr 26 to May 10Apr 5
East RidgeApr 14 to Apr 28Mar 24
TullahomaApr 27 to May 11Apr 6
SpringfieldApr 30 to May 14Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant okra in Tennessee?

In Nashville, sow outdoors from April 22 to May 6. Across Tennessee the window opens between April 6 and May 10, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 3–5 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Tennessee

Okra in other states

Frost dates for every city in Tennessee