Knoxville, TN Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Knoxville garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Apr 11
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Oct 28
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
200 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
7b
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Mar 26 Apr 11 Apr 29
First fall frost Nov 9 Oct 28 Oct 13
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Mar 31 · first Nov 6

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Knoxville Exp Stn station (8 km from central Knoxville). "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Knoxville

Computed from Knoxville's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-7 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 14 – Feb 28 Apr 18 – Apr 25
🫑 Peppers Jan 31 – Feb 14 Apr 25 – May 2
🥬 Lettuce Feb 28 – Mar 14 Mar 14 – Mar 28 Mar 14 – Apr 11
🫛 Peas Feb 28 – Mar 14
🥕 Carrots Mar 21 – Apr 11
🥦 Broccoli Feb 21 – Mar 7 Mar 21 – Apr 4
🥬 Kale Feb 28 – Mar 14 Mar 14 – Mar 28 Mar 14 – Mar 28
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 14 – Mar 21 Apr 18 – Apr 25 Apr 18 – Apr 25
🥒 Zucchini Mar 14 – Mar 21 Apr 18 – Apr 25 Apr 18 – Apr 25
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 18 – Apr 25
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 18 – Apr 25
🌿 Basil Feb 28 – Mar 14 Apr 18 – Apr 25 Apr 25 – May 2
🧄 Garlic Fall: Sep 16 – Oct 14

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Knoxville's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Knoxville

With roughly 200 frost-free days, Knoxville gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Oct 28 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Knoxville, TN?

The average last spring frost in Knoxville is around Apr 11, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Knoxville, TN?

The average first fall frost in Knoxville arrives around Oct 28. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Knoxville?

About 200 frost-free days on average, from Apr 11 to Oct 28. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Knoxville in?

USDA zone 7b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.