When to plant in Knoxville, TN
USDA Zone 7bKnoxville, 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 Knoxville, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
KNOXVILLE EXP STN · 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 Knoxville’s own odds, recorded at KNOXVILLE EXP STN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 10 | Apr 24 | Apr 9 | Oct 7 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 |
| 32°F | Apr 29 | Apr 11 | Mar 26 | Oct 13 | Oct 28 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F | Apr 16 | Mar 31 | Mar 13 | Oct 24 | Nov 6 | Nov 20 |
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 Knoxville, 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.
Knoxville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Knoxville, TN?
Plan for the last spring frost in Knoxville around April 11 (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 Knoxville, TN?
Expect Knoxville's first fall frost near October 28 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Knoxville in?
Knoxville 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 Knoxville?
There are roughly 200 frost-free days in Knoxville (a moderate growing season), running from the average last frost around April 11 to the first fall frost near October 28.
When should I plant tomatoes in Knoxville?
In Knoxville, start tomato seeds indoors around February 14–February 28, then transplant seedlings outdoors around April 18 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Knoxville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Knoxville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at KNOXVILLE EXP STN, 8 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 Knoxville, TN — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00404946. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/tennessee/knoxville.