When to plant in Bristol, TN
USDA Zone 7aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Bristol, Tennessee — all computed from Bristol's nearest NOAA weather station.
These dates come from a station roughly 19 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Bristol (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. In zone 7a, Bristol supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
BRISTOL TRI CITY AP · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Bristol’s own odds, recorded at BRISTOL TRI CITY AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 17 | Apr 29 | Apr 14 | Oct 4 | Oct 15 | Oct 28 |
| 32°F | May 5 | Apr 16 | Mar 30 | Oct 11 | Oct 24 | Nov 4 |
| 28°F | Apr 18 | Apr 1 | Mar 16 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 15 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Bristol, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 26 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Bristol planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bristol, TN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Bristol around April 16 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Bristol, TN?
Expect Bristol's first fall frost near October 24 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Bristol in?
Bristol is in USDA hardiness zone 7a. In zone 7a, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Bristol?
Bristol has about 191 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 16) and first fall frost (October 24).
When should I plant tomatoes in Bristol?
For Bristol, sow tomatoes indoors about February 19–March 5 and move the seedlings out around April 23, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Bristol
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bristol’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Bristol · 8 km
- Elizabethton · 24 km
- Johnson City · 28 km
- Kingsport · 29 km
- Boone · 63 km
- Greeneville · 69 km
- Lenoir · 95 km
- Morganton · 102 km
Frost dates recorded at BRISTOL TRI CITY AP, 19 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Bristol, TN — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013877. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/tennessee/bristol.