When to plant in Memphis, TN
USDA Zone 8aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Memphis, Tennessee — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A generous ~245-day season lets Memphis gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 8a means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Memphis, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
Frost probability
MEMPHIS INTL 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 Memphis’s own odds, recorded at MEMPHIS INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 16 | Mar 29 | Mar 10 | Oct 24 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 |
| 32°F | Apr 4 | Mar 16 | Feb 27 | Nov 2 | Nov 16 | Dec 3 |
| 28°F | Mar 23 | Mar 4 | Feb 13 | Nov 10 | Nov 28 | Dec 18 |
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 Memphis, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 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.
Memphis planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Memphis, TN?
Memphis's average last spring frost falls near March 16 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Memphis, TN?
The first fall frost in Memphis typically arrives around November 16 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Memphis in?
Memphis is in USDA hardiness zone 8a. In zone 8a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Memphis?
There are roughly 245 frost-free days in Memphis (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 16 to the first fall frost near November 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in Memphis?
In Memphis, start tomato seeds indoors around January 19–February 2, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 23 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Memphis
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Memphis’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Germantown · 17 km
- Southaven · 18 km
- Horn Lake · 19 km
- Bartlett · 19 km
- Olive Branch · 21 km
- West Memphis · 21 km
- Marion · 24 km
- Collierville · 26 km
Frost dates recorded at MEMPHIS INTL 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 Memphis, TN — Frost Dates & Zone 8a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00013893. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/tennessee/memphis.