When to plant in Chattanooga, TN
USDA Zone 8aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Chattanooga, Tennessee — all computed from Chattanooga's nearest NOAA weather station.
In zone 8a, Chattanooga supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
The average last spring frost in Chattanooga is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CHATTANOOGA LOVELL 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 Chattanooga’s own odds, recorded at CHATTANOOGA LOVELL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 20 | Apr 4 | Mar 19 | Oct 19 | Oct 31 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F | Apr 8 | Mar 24 | Mar 6 | Oct 27 | Nov 9 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F | Mar 30 | Mar 11 | Feb 18 | Nov 6 | Nov 22 | Dec 13 |
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 Chattanooga, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Chattanooga planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Chattanooga, TN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Chattanooga around March 24 (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 Chattanooga, TN?
The first fall frost in Chattanooga typically arrives around November 9 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Chattanooga in?
Chattanooga is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Chattanooga?
Chattanooga has about 230 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 24) and first fall frost (November 9).
When should I plant tomatoes in Chattanooga?
For Chattanooga, sow tomatoes indoors about January 27–February 10 and move the seedlings out around March 31, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Chattanooga
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Chattanooga’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Red Bank · 7 km
- East Ridge · 8 km
- Middle Valley · 15 km
- Fort Oglethorpe · 15 km
- Collegedale · 18 km
- Soddy-Daisy · 23 km
- Cleveland · 37 km
- Dalton · 42 km
Frost dates recorded at CHATTANOOGA LOVELL AP, 6 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 Chattanooga, TN — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013882. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/tennessee/chattanooga.