When to plant pumpkins in Tennessee

Pumpkins
Sow outdoors 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.

Sow outdoors, Nashville
Apr 15–Apr 29
Last sowing for a harvest
Jun 19
Last frost, Nashville
Apr 1

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. For Halloween pumpkins, count back the variety's days to maturity from late September.

Pumpkins 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
CitySow outdoorsLast frost
NashvilleApr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
MemphisMar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
KnoxvilleApr 25 to May 9Apr 11
ChattanoogaApr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
ClarksvilleApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
MurfreesboroApr 23 to May 7Apr 9
FranklinApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Johnson CityMay 3 to May 17Apr 19
JacksonApr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
HendersonvilleApr 25 to May 9Apr 11
SmyrnaApr 27 to May 11Apr 13
Spring HillApr 17 to May 1Apr 3
KingsportApr 23 to May 7Apr 9
BartlettApr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
GallatinApr 30 to May 14Apr 16
LebanonApr 20 to May 4Apr 6
ColliervilleApr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
ClevelandApr 20 to May 4Apr 6
ColumbiaApr 24 to May 8Apr 10
BrentwoodApr 29 to May 13Apr 15
Mount JulietApr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
La VergneApr 27 to May 11Apr 13
GermantownApr 5 to Apr 19Mar 22
CookevilleApr 28 to May 12Apr 14
Oak RidgeApr 19 to May 3Apr 5
MorristownApr 24 to May 8Apr 10
MaryvilleApr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
BristolApr 30 to May 14Apr 16
ShelbyvilleApr 21 to May 5Apr 7
FarragutApr 19 to May 3Apr 5
East RidgeApr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
TullahomaApr 20 to May 4Apr 6
SpringfieldApr 23 to May 7Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant pumpkins in Tennessee?

In Nashville, sow outdoors 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?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Tennessee

Pumpkins in other states

Frost dates for every city in Tennessee