When to plant in Cookeville, TN
USDA Zone 7aCookeville, Tennessee frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 7a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Cookeville, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
COOKEVILLE · 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 Cookeville’s own odds, recorded at COOKEVILLE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 11 | Apr 25 | Apr 12 | Oct 6 | Oct 17 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F | Apr 30 | Apr 14 | Mar 29 | Oct 12 | Oct 25 | Nov 7 |
| 28°F | Apr 16 | Apr 1 | Mar 12 | Oct 21 | Nov 3 | Nov 21 |
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 Cookeville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 27 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.
Cookeville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cookeville, TN?
On average, the last spring frost in Cookeville is around April 14 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Cookeville, TN?
Expect Cookeville's first fall frost near October 25 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Cookeville in?
Cookeville 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 Cookeville?
There are roughly 194 frost-free days in Cookeville (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 14 to the first fall frost near October 25.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cookeville?
In Cookeville, start tomato seeds indoors around February 17–March 3, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 21 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Cookeville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cookeville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Crossville · 48 km
- McMinnville · 57 km
- Hartsville/Trousdale County · 64 km
- Lebanon · 75 km
- Murfreesboro · 88 km
- Gallatin · 89 km
- Mount Juliet · 90 km
- Manchester · 91 km
Frost dates recorded at COOKEVILLE, 4 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 Cookeville, TN — Frost Dates & Zone 7a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00402009. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/tennessee/cookeville.