When to plant in Oak Ridge, TN
USDA Zone 7bOak Ridge, Tennessee frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 7b, Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
OAK RIDGE ATDD · 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 Oak Ridge’s own odds, recorded at OAK RIDGE ATDD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 2 | Apr 17 | Apr 3 | Oct 10 | Oct 23 | Nov 4 |
| 32°F | Apr 19 | Apr 5 | Mar 19 | Oct 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 13 |
| 28°F | Apr 9 | Mar 23 | Mar 2 | Oct 31 | Nov 11 | Nov 28 |
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 Oak Ridge, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 20 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.
Oak Ridge planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Oak Ridge, TN?
Oak Ridge's average last spring frost falls near April 5 — 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 Oak Ridge, TN?
In Oak Ridge, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 1 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Oak Ridge in?
Oak Ridge 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 Oak Ridge?
Oak Ridge has about 210 frost-free days — a moderate growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 5) and first fall frost (November 1).
When should I plant tomatoes in Oak Ridge?
For Oak Ridge, sow tomatoes indoors about February 8–February 22 and move the seedlings out around April 12, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Oak Ridge
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Oak Ridge’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at OAK RIDGE ATDD, 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 Oak Ridge, TN — Frost Dates & Zone 7b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003841. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/tennessee/oak-ridge.