When to plant tomatoes in Tennessee

Tomatoes
Plant out in Nashville
Apr 8–Apr 22

Across Tennessee the window opens between March 23 and April 26. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Start indoors, Nashville
Feb 4–Feb 18
Plant out, Nashville
Apr 8–Apr 22
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 24
Last frost, Nashville
Apr 1

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Wait for nights that stay above 50°F. A cold snap after transplanting stalls tomatoes for weeks.

Tomatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
NashvilleApr 8–Apr 22
MemphisMar 23–Apr 6
KnoxvilleApr 18–May 2
ChattanoogaMar 31–Apr 14
ClarksvilleApr 10–Apr 24
MurfreesboroApr 16–Apr 30
FranklinApr 10–Apr 24
Johnson CityApr 26–May 10
JacksonApr 9–Apr 23
HendersonvilleApr 18–May 2
SmyrnaApr 20–May 4
Spring HillApr 10–Apr 24
KingsportApr 16–Apr 30
BartlettApr 5–Apr 19
GallatinApr 23–May 7
LebanonApr 13–Apr 27
ColliervilleApr 5–Apr 19
ClevelandApr 13–Apr 27
ColumbiaApr 17–May 1
BrentwoodApr 22–May 6
Mount JulietApr 8–Apr 22
La VergneApr 20–May 4
GermantownMar 29–Apr 12
CookevilleApr 21–May 5
Oak RidgeApr 12–Apr 26
MorristownApr 17–May 1
MaryvilleApr 8–Apr 22
BristolApr 23–May 7
ShelbyvilleApr 14–Apr 28
FarragutApr 12–Apr 26
All 33 cities
CityStart indoorsPlant outLast frost
NashvilleFeb 4 to Feb 18Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
MemphisJan 19 to Feb 2Mar 23 to Apr 6Mar 16
KnoxvilleFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
ChattanoogaJan 27 to Feb 10Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
ClarksvilleFeb 6 to Feb 20Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
MurfreesboroFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
FranklinFeb 6 to Feb 20Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
Johnson CityFeb 22 to Mar 8Apr 26 to May 10Apr 19
JacksonFeb 5 to Feb 19Apr 9 to Apr 23Apr 2
HendersonvilleFeb 14 to Feb 28Apr 18 to May 2Apr 11
SmyrnaFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 20 to May 4Apr 13
Spring HillFeb 6 to Feb 20Apr 10 to Apr 24Apr 3
KingsportFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9
BartlettFeb 1 to Feb 15Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
GallatinFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
LebanonFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
ColliervilleFeb 1 to Feb 15Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 29
ClevelandFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
ColumbiaFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
BrentwoodFeb 18 to Mar 4Apr 22 to May 6Apr 15
Mount JulietFeb 4 to Feb 18Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
La VergneFeb 16 to Mar 2Apr 20 to May 4Apr 13
GermantownJan 25 to Feb 8Mar 29 to Apr 12Mar 22
CookevilleFeb 17 to Mar 3Apr 21 to May 5Apr 14
Oak RidgeFeb 8 to Feb 22Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
MorristownFeb 13 to Feb 27Apr 17 to May 1Apr 10
MaryvilleFeb 4 to Feb 18Apr 8 to Apr 22Apr 1
BristolFeb 19 to Mar 5Apr 23 to May 7Apr 16
ShelbyvilleFeb 10 to Feb 24Apr 14 to Apr 28Apr 7
FarragutFeb 8 to Feb 22Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 5
East RidgeJan 27 to Feb 10Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 24
TullahomaFeb 9 to Feb 23Apr 13 to Apr 27Apr 6
SpringfieldFeb 12 to Feb 26Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant tomatoes in Tennessee?

In Nashville, plant out from April 8 to April 22. Across Tennessee the window opens between March 23 and April 26, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost; plant out 1–3 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

More for Tennessee

Tomatoes in other states

Frost dates for every city in Tennessee