In Nashville, the average last spring frost is Apr 5 and the average first fall frost is Oct 28, a growing season of about 206 days (zone 7b). Start tomatoes indoors around Feb 22 and move them outside from Apr 19. Plant garlic Nov 4 to Nov 11, one to two weeks after the first fall frost.
Nashville at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Apr 5 (average)
- First fall frost
- Oct 28 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 206 days
- Hardiness zone
- 7b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Shelby Bottoms Nature, TN; Nashville Berry Fld, TN; and Old Hickory Dam, TN, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Nashville this month (January)
- Start onions indoors: Jan 25
What to plant in Nashville this month (February)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Feb 22
- Start peppers indoors: Feb 22
- Start eggplant indoors: Feb 22
- Start lettuce indoors: Feb 22
Coming up in early March: start kale indoors (Mar 1), start broccoli indoors (Mar 1), start cabbage indoors (Mar 1) and start basil indoors (Mar 8).
What to plant in Nashville this month (March)
- Start kale indoors: Mar 1
- Start broccoli indoors: Mar 1
- Start cabbage indoors: Mar 1
- Start basil indoors: Mar 8
- Direct sow spinach: Mar 15
- Direct sow peas: Mar 15
- Direct sow radishes: Mar 15
- Transplant lettuce: Mar 22
- Direct sow carrots: Mar 22
- Start cucumbers indoors: Mar 22
- Start zucchini indoors: Mar 22
- Start winter squash indoors: Mar 22
- Direct sow beets: Mar 29
- Transplant kale: Mar 29
- Transplant broccoli: Mar 29
- Transplant cabbage: Mar 29
- Direct sow potatoes: Mar 29
Coming up in early April: transplant onions (Apr 5), transplant cucumbers (Apr 12), transplant zucchini (Apr 12), transplant winter squash (Apr 12) and direct sow beans (Apr 12).
What to plant in Nashville this month (April)
- Transplant onions: Apr 5
- Transplant cucumbers: Apr 12
- Transplant zucchini: Apr 12
- Transplant winter squash: Apr 12
- Direct sow beans: Apr 12
- Transplant tomatoes: Apr 19
- Transplant peppers: Apr 19
- Transplant eggplant: Apr 19
- Transplant basil: Apr 19
What to plant in Nashville this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Nashville in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 19.
What to plant in Nashville this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Nashville in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 19.
What to plant in Nashville this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Nashville in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Aug 19.
What to plant in Nashville this month (August)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Aug 19
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Aug 19
Coming up in early September: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Sep 2) and sow spinach for a fall harvest (Sep 9).
What to plant in Nashville this month (September)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Sep 2
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Sep 9
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Sep 23
What to plant in Nashville this month (October)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Nashville in October. Next up: plant garlic on Nov 4.
What to plant in Nashville this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Nov 4 to Nov 11
What to plant in Nashville this month (December)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Nashville in December. Next up: start onions indoors on Jan 25.
Nashville planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 22 | Transplant Apr 19 | From Jul 6 |
| Peppers | Feb 22 | Transplant Apr 19 | From Jun 30 |
| Eggplant | Feb 22 | Transplant Apr 19 | From Jul 3 |
| Basil | Mar 8 | Transplant Apr 19 | From May 31 |
| Onions (from seed) | Jan 25 | Transplant Apr 5 | From Jul 14 |
| Lettuce | Feb 22 | Transplant Mar 22Fall: direct sow Sep 2 | From May 1Fall: from Oct 12 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Mar 15Fall: direct sow Sep 9 | From Apr 24Fall: from Oct 19 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Mar 15Fall: direct sow Aug 19 | From May 14Fall: from Oct 18 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 15Fall: direct sow Sep 23 | From Apr 9Fall: from Oct 18 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Mar 22 | From May 31 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Mar 29 | From May 23 |
| Kale | Mar 1 | Transplant Mar 29Fall: direct sow Aug 19 | From May 23Fall: from Oct 13 |
| Broccoli | Mar 1 | Transplant Mar 29 | From Jun 2 |
| Cabbage | Mar 1 | Transplant Mar 29 | From Jun 7 |
| Cucumbers | Mar 22 | Transplant Apr 12 | From Jun 6 |
| Zucchini | Mar 22 | Transplant Apr 12 | From Jun 1 |
| Winter squash | Mar 22 | Transplant Apr 12 | From Jul 11 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Apr 12 | From Jun 6 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Mar 29 | From Jun 17 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves Nov 4 to Nov 11 | Around Jun 28 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Nashville's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready. Garlic follows University of Minnesota Extension (see below).
Fall planting in Nashville
Plant garlic Nov 4 to Nov 11. That is one to two weeks after Nashville's average first fall frost of Oct 28, the timing University of Minnesota Extension recommends, so the cloves root before winter without sending shoots up. Harvest comes around Jun 28 the following summer.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Nashville:
- Peas: sow Aug 19, ready from about Oct 18
- Kale: sow Aug 19, ready from about Oct 13
- Lettuce: sow Sep 2, ready from about Oct 12
- Spinach: sow Sep 9, ready from about Oct 19
- Radishes: sow Sep 23, ready from about Oct 18
Nearby planting calendars
Nashville planting questions
When is the last frost in Nashville?
The average last spring frost in Nashville is Apr 5, and the average first fall frost is Oct 28, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Nashville?
Start tomatoes indoors around Feb 22, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Apr 19, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Nashville in fall?
Garlic goes in Nov 4 to Nov 11. For fall harvests, sow peas and kale around Aug 19, lettuce around Sep 2, spinach around Sep 9 and radishes around Sep 23.