When to plant in Johnson City, TN
USDA Zone 7bJohnson City, Tennessee frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Zone 7b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Johnson City, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
ELIZABETHTON · 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 Johnson City’s own odds, recorded at ELIZABETHTON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 17 | Apr 30 | Apr 15 | Oct 4 | Oct 16 | Oct 29 |
| 32°F | May 7 | Apr 19 | Apr 2 | Oct 10 | Oct 24 | Nov 5 |
| 28°F | Apr 23 | Apr 5 | Mar 20 | 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 Johnson City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 23 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.
Johnson City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Johnson City, TN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Johnson City around April 19 (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 Johnson City, TN?
The first fall frost in Johnson City typically arrives around October 24 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Johnson City in?
Johnson City is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. In zone 7b, winters are moderate — most common vegetables grow well in season.
How long is the growing season in Johnson City?
There are roughly 188 frost-free days in Johnson City (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 19 to the first fall frost near October 24.
When should I plant tomatoes in Johnson City?
In Johnson City, start tomato seeds indoors around February 22–March 8, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 26 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Johnson City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Johnson City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Elizabethton · 13 km
- Kingsport · 24 km
- Bristol · 28 km
- Bristol · 36 km
- Greeneville · 44 km
- Boone · 66 km
- Morristown · 84 km
- Asheville · 87 km
Frost dates recorded at ELIZABETHTON, 12 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 Johnson City, TN — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00402806. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/tennessee/johnson-city.