When to plant onions in Tennessee

Onions
Plant out in Nashville
Feb 18–Mar 11

Across Tennessee the window opens between February 2 and March 8. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Nashville
Jan 7–Feb 4
Plant out, Nashville
Feb 18–Mar 11
Last frost, Nashville
Apr 1

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Northern gardens need long-day varieties and southern gardens need short-day ones. A wrong pick gives small bulbs.

Onions planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
NashvilleFeb 18–Mar 11
MemphisFeb 2–Feb 23
KnoxvilleFeb 28–Mar 21
ChattanoogaFeb 10–Mar 3
ClarksvilleFeb 20–Mar 13
MurfreesboroFeb 26–Mar 19
FranklinFeb 20–Mar 13
Johnson CityMar 8–Mar 29
JacksonFeb 19–Mar 12
HendersonvilleFeb 28–Mar 21
SmyrnaMar 2–Mar 23
Spring HillFeb 20–Mar 13
KingsportFeb 26–Mar 19
BartlettFeb 15–Mar 8
GallatinMar 5–Mar 26
LebanonFeb 23–Mar 16
ColliervilleFeb 15–Mar 8
ClevelandFeb 23–Mar 16
ColumbiaFeb 27–Mar 20
BrentwoodMar 4–Mar 25
Mount JulietFeb 18–Mar 11
La VergneMar 2–Mar 23
GermantownFeb 8–Mar 1
CookevilleMar 3–Mar 24
Oak RidgeFeb 22–Mar 15
MorristownFeb 27–Mar 20
MaryvilleFeb 18–Mar 11
BristolMar 5–Mar 26
ShelbyvilleFeb 24–Mar 17
FarragutFeb 22–Mar 15
All 33 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
NashvilleJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
MemphisDec 22 to Jan 19Feb 2 to Feb 23Mar 16
KnoxvilleJan 17 to Feb 14Feb 28 to Mar 21Apr 11
ChattanoogaDec 30 to Jan 27Feb 10 to Mar 3Mar 24
ClarksvilleJan 9 to Feb 6Feb 20 to Mar 13Apr 3
MurfreesboroJan 15 to Feb 12Feb 26 to Mar 19Apr 9
FranklinJan 9 to Feb 6Feb 20 to Mar 13Apr 3
Johnson CityJan 25 to Feb 22Mar 8 to Mar 29Apr 19
JacksonJan 8 to Feb 5Feb 19 to Mar 12Apr 2
HendersonvilleJan 17 to Feb 14Feb 28 to Mar 21Apr 11
SmyrnaJan 19 to Feb 16Mar 2 to Mar 23Apr 13
Spring HillJan 9 to Feb 6Feb 20 to Mar 13Apr 3
KingsportJan 15 to Feb 12Feb 26 to Mar 19Apr 9
BartlettJan 4 to Feb 1Feb 15 to Mar 8Mar 29
GallatinJan 22 to Feb 19Mar 5 to Mar 26Apr 16
LebanonJan 12 to Feb 9Feb 23 to Mar 16Apr 6
ColliervilleJan 4 to Feb 1Feb 15 to Mar 8Mar 29
ClevelandJan 12 to Feb 9Feb 23 to Mar 16Apr 6
ColumbiaJan 16 to Feb 13Feb 27 to Mar 20Apr 10
BrentwoodJan 21 to Feb 18Mar 4 to Mar 25Apr 15
Mount JulietJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
La VergneJan 19 to Feb 16Mar 2 to Mar 23Apr 13
GermantownDec 28 to Jan 25Feb 8 to Mar 1Mar 22
CookevilleJan 20 to Feb 17Mar 3 to Mar 24Apr 14
Oak RidgeJan 11 to Feb 8Feb 22 to Mar 15Apr 5
MorristownJan 16 to Feb 13Feb 27 to Mar 20Apr 10
MaryvilleJan 7 to Feb 4Feb 18 to Mar 11Apr 1
BristolJan 22 to Feb 19Mar 5 to Mar 26Apr 16
ShelbyvilleJan 13 to Feb 10Feb 24 to Mar 17Apr 7
FarragutJan 11 to Feb 8Feb 22 to Mar 15Apr 5
East RidgeDec 30 to Jan 27Feb 10 to Mar 3Mar 24
TullahomaJan 12 to Feb 9Feb 23 to Mar 16Apr 6
SpringfieldJan 15 to Feb 12Feb 26 to Mar 19Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant onions in Tennessee?

In Nashville, plant out from February 18 to March 11. Across Tennessee the window opens between February 2 and March 8, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 8–12 weeks before the last frost; plant out 3–6 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Tennessee

Onions in other states

Frost dates for every city in Tennessee