When to plant watermelon in Tennessee

Watermelon
Plant out 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.

Start indoors, Nashville
Mar 4–Mar 11
Plant out, Nashville
Apr 15–Apr 29
Sow outdoors, Nashville
Apr 15–Apr 29
Last sowing for a harvest
Jul 9
Last frost, Nashville
Apr 1

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. In short-season areas, start seedlings indoors and pick an early variety.

Watermelon 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
CityStart indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsLast frost
NashvilleMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
MemphisFeb 16 to Feb 23Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 30 to Apr 13Mar 16
KnoxvilleMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
ChattanoogaFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
ClarksvilleMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
MurfreesboroMar 12 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
FranklinMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
Johnson CityMar 22 to Mar 29May 3 to May 17May 3 to May 17Apr 19
JacksonMar 5 to Mar 12Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 16 to Apr 30Apr 2
HendersonvilleMar 14 to Mar 21Apr 25 to May 9Apr 25 to May 9Apr 11
SmyrnaMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
Spring HillMar 6 to Mar 13Apr 17 to May 1Apr 17 to May 1Apr 3
KingsportMar 12 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9
BartlettMar 1 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
GallatinMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
LebanonMar 9 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
ColliervilleMar 1 to Mar 8Apr 12 to Apr 26Apr 12 to Apr 26Mar 29
ClevelandMar 9 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
ColumbiaMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
BrentwoodMar 18 to Mar 25Apr 29 to May 13Apr 29 to May 13Apr 15
Mount JulietMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
La VergneMar 16 to Mar 23Apr 27 to May 11Apr 27 to May 11Apr 13
GermantownFeb 22 to Mar 1Apr 5 to Apr 19Apr 5 to Apr 19Mar 22
CookevilleMar 17 to Mar 24Apr 28 to May 12Apr 28 to May 12Apr 14
Oak RidgeMar 8 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
MorristownMar 13 to Mar 20Apr 24 to May 8Apr 24 to May 8Apr 10
MaryvilleMar 4 to Mar 11Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 15 to Apr 29Apr 1
BristolMar 19 to Mar 26Apr 30 to May 14Apr 30 to May 14Apr 16
ShelbyvilleMar 10 to Mar 17Apr 21 to May 5Apr 21 to May 5Apr 7
FarragutMar 8 to Mar 15Apr 19 to May 3Apr 19 to May 3Apr 5
East RidgeFeb 24 to Mar 3Apr 7 to Apr 21Apr 7 to Apr 21Mar 24
TullahomaMar 9 to Mar 16Apr 20 to May 4Apr 20 to May 4Apr 6
SpringfieldMar 12 to Mar 19Apr 23 to May 7Apr 23 to May 7Apr 9

Questions

When should I plant watermelon in Tennessee?

In Nashville, plant out 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?

Start seeds indoors 3–4 weeks before the last frost; plant out 2–4 weeks after the last frost; 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

Watermelon in other states

Frost dates for every city in Tennessee