When to plant tulip bulbs in Tennessee

Fall planting in Nashville

Oct 17–Nov 21

Across Tennessee the window opens between October 7 and November 2. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average first fall frost.

Fall planting, Nashville: Oct 17–Nov 21
Last frost, Nashville: Apr 1

Plant from 2 weeks before to 3 weeks after the first fall frost. Plant once the soil has cooled below 60°F. Bulbs need 12–14 weeks of cold to flower in spring.

Tulip bulbs planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

NashvilleOct 17–Nov 21

MemphisNov 2–Dec 7

KnoxvilleOct 14–Nov 18

ChattanoogaOct 26–Nov 30

ClarksvilleOct 18–Nov 22

MurfreesboroOct 13–Nov 17

FranklinOct 17–Nov 21

Johnson CityOct 10–Nov 14

JacksonOct 15–Nov 19

HendersonvilleOct 15–Nov 19

SmyrnaOct 7–Nov 11

Spring HillOct 18–Nov 22

KingsportOct 15–Nov 19

BartlettOct 22–Nov 26

GallatinOct 9–Nov 13

LebanonOct 14–Nov 18

ColliervilleOct 20–Nov 24

ClevelandOct 16–Nov 20

ColumbiaOct 13–Nov 17

BrentwoodOct 12–Nov 16

Mount JulietOct 21–Nov 25

La VergneOct 7–Nov 11

GermantownOct 24–Nov 28

CookevilleOct 11–Nov 15

Oak RidgeOct 18–Nov 22

MorristownOct 14–Nov 18

MaryvilleOct 19–Nov 23

BristolOct 10–Nov 14

ShelbyvilleOct 15–Nov 19

FarragutOct 18–Nov 22

All 33 cities

City	Fall planting	Last frost
Nashville	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 1
Memphis	Nov 2 to Dec 7	Mar 16
Knoxville	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 11
Chattanooga	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Mar 24
Clarksville	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 3
Murfreesboro	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 9
Franklin	Oct 17 to Nov 21	Apr 3
Johnson City	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 19
Jackson	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 2
Hendersonville	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 11
Smyrna	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 13
Spring Hill	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 3
Kingsport	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 9
Bartlett	Oct 22 to Nov 26	Mar 29
Gallatin	Oct 9 to Nov 13	Apr 16
Lebanon	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 6
Collierville	Oct 20 to Nov 24	Mar 29
Cleveland	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 6
Columbia	Oct 13 to Nov 17	Apr 10
Brentwood	Oct 12 to Nov 16	Apr 15
Mount Juliet	Oct 21 to Nov 25	Apr 1
La Vergne	Oct 7 to Nov 11	Apr 13
Germantown	Oct 24 to Nov 28	Mar 22
Cookeville	Oct 11 to Nov 15	Apr 14
Oak Ridge	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 5
Morristown	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 10
Maryville	Oct 19 to Nov 23	Apr 1
Bristol	Oct 10 to Nov 14	Apr 16
Shelbyville	Oct 15 to Nov 19	Apr 7
Farragut	Oct 18 to Nov 22	Apr 5
East Ridge	Oct 26 to Nov 30	Mar 24
Tullahoma	Oct 16 to Nov 20	Apr 6
Springfield	Oct 14 to Nov 18	Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant tulip bulbs in Tennessee?

In Nashville, fall planting from October 17 to November 21. Across Tennessee the window opens between October 7 and November 2, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

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