USDA zone 7b in Tennessee
USDA plant hardiness zone 7b covers 103 locations across Tennessee (average annual extreme minimum 5 to 10 °F): Adamsville, TN, Alamo, TN, Altamont, TN, Ashland, TN, Athens, TN, Baxter, TN, and 97 more. Average last spring frost across this group ranges March 16 (Memphis) to April 22 (Halls), and growing seasons run 180–244 days (Ducktown to Memphis) — even within one state, because hardiness sets winter survival, not planting dates. The table below gives every Tennessee location's own frost dates; the printable planting calendar uses Winchester, this group's median-season location.
- USDA zone
- 7b5 to 10 °F
- Last frost range
- Mar 16–Apr 22avg, 32°F
- First frost range
- Oct 19–Nov 16avg, 32°F
- Growing season range
- 180–244days
Locations in this group
Every location below shares this zone and a nearby weather station, but keeps its own frost dates — find your town for its own numbers, or use the ZIP planner on the home page for an instant personalized answer.
| Location | Also covers | Nearest station | Last frost | First frost | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adamsville | Olivet, Michie, Crump, Morris Chapel, Milledgeville, Counce, +2 more | Savannah 6 Sw | Mar 31 | Nov 1 | 212 |
| Alamo | Friendship | Alamo 1 N | Mar 28 | Nov 4 | 220 |
| Altamont | Pelham, Palmer, Whitwell | Coalmont | Apr 21 | Oct 20 | 182 |
| Ashland | Charlotte, Slayden | Cheatham L&d | Apr 9 | Nov 1 | 206 |
| Athens | Madisonville, Delano, Etowah, Riceville, Englewood | Athens | Apr 6 | Oct 31 | 208 |
| Baxter | — | Cookeville | Apr 14 | Oct 25 | 195 |
| Bells | Maury | Brownsville | Mar 29 | Nov 5 | 221 |
| Big Sandy | — | Big Sandy | Apr 8 | Oct 29 | 202 |
| Blountville | Bluff, Gray | Bristol Tri City Ap | Apr 16 | Oct 24 | 190 |
| Bolivar | Whiteville, Middleton, Toone, Hornsby | Bolivar Wtr Wks | Apr 3 | Oct 30 | 210 |
| Centerville | Lobelville, Wrigley | Centerville 4ne | Apr 11 | Oct 27 | 199 |
| Chattanooga | Signal Mountain, Lone Oak | Chattanooga Lovell Ap | Mar 24 | Nov 9 | 230 |
| Clarksville | Cumberland, Adams | Clarksville Wwtp | Apr 3 | Nov 1 | 212 |
| Clinton | Powell, Oliver Springs, Karns | Oak Ridge Asos | Mar 31 | Nov 4 | 218 |
| Columbia | Mount Pleasant, Bon Aqua Junction | Columbia 3 Wnw | Apr 10 | Oct 27 | 199 |
| Cosby | Parrottsville | Waterville 2 | Apr 6 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Cumberland | Dover, Big Rock | Dover 1 W | Apr 4 | Oct 31 | 210 |
| Cumberland | Erin, Tennessee Ridge | Tennessee Ridge | Apr 7 | Nov 3 | 211 |
| Darden | Clifton, Parsons, Scotts Hill, Saltillo, Sardis, Decaturville, +1 more | Parsons Wtp | Apr 5 | Oct 29 | 208 |
| Dickson | Bon Aqua Junction, Burns, Vanleer, McEwen | Dickson | Apr 13 | Oct 25 | 195 |
| Dresden | Greenfield, Palmersville, Gleason, Dukedom | Dresden | Apr 3 | Nov 1 | 212 |
| Ducktown | Murphy, Farner, Mineral Bluff, Marble, Epworth, Young Harris, +1 more | Murphy 4ese | Apr 22 | Oct 20 | 180 |
| Dunlap | — | Fall Creek Falls Sp | Apr 21 | Oct 19 | 180 |
| Dyersburg | — | Dyersburg Iii Golf | Mar 28 | Nov 2 | 221 |
| Eagleville | — | Christiana 5w | Apr 14 | Oct 25 | 192 |
| Farragut | Loudon, Lenoir, Greenback, Friendsville | Lenoir City | Apr 5 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Flat Top Mountain | — | Pikeville | Apr 11 | Oct 25 | 197 |
| Friendship | — | Dyersburg | Mar 31 | Nov 6 | 224 |
| Gallatin | Castalian Springs, Bransford | Bethpage 1 S | Apr 16 | Oct 23 | 189 |
| Gates | — | Ripley | Mar 26 | Nov 6 | 227 |
| Gordonsville | Carthage, South Carthage, Alexandria, Gainesboro, Hickman, Watertown | Carthage | Apr 10 | Oct 29 | 201 |
| Guys | Selmer, Bethel Springs, Pocahontas, Ramer, Finger | Selmer | Apr 6 | Oct 30 | 206 |
| Halls | Norris, Plainview, Maynardville, Luttrell, Rocky Top, Andersonville | Norris | Apr 22 | Oct 25 | 184 |
| Harriman | Kingston, Oakdale | Kingston | Apr 3 | Nov 4 | 215 |
| Hartsville/Trousdale County | Lafayette, Red Boiling Springs | Lafayette | Apr 3 | Nov 1 | 213 |
| Henderson | — | Henderson 4 W | Apr 10 | Oct 25 | 200 |
| Huntingdon | McKenzie, McLemoresville, Hollow Rock, Bruceton, Yuma, Trezevant, +1 more | Huntingdon Wtp | Apr 2 | Oct 31 | 211 |
| Jackson | Humboldt, Beech Bluff, Pinson | Jackson Exp Stn | Apr 2 | Oct 29 | 207 |
| Jellico | — | Newcomb | Apr 18 | Oct 24 | 187 |
| Johnson | Pine Crest, Bluff, Watauga | Elizabethton | Apr 19 | Oct 24 | 187 |
| Kahite | Fontana Dam | Tapoco | Apr 17 | Oct 27 | 193 |
| Kingsport | Mount Carmel, Spurgeon, Weber, Hiltons | Kingsport | Apr 9 | Oct 29 | 203 |
| Knoxville | Seymour, Halls, Karns, John Sevier | Knoxville Exp Stn | Apr 11 | Oct 28 | 198 |
| La Grange | Grand Junction, Saulsbury, Hickory Valley | Ames Plantation | Apr 1 | Nov 3 | 217 |
| Lakewood Park | Greenvale, Woodbury, Auburntown | Woodbury 1 Wnw | Apr 17 | Oct 21 | 184 |
| Lakewood Park | Hillsboro, New Union | Manchester #2 | Apr 13 | Oct 24 | 192 |
| Lawrenceburg | Loretto, St. Joseph, Lexington, Summertown, Leoma, Ethridge, +1 more | Lawrenceburg Filt Plt | Apr 8 | Oct 31 | 204 |
| Lebanon | — | Lebanon | Apr 6 | Oct 28 | 206 |
| Lenox | Deering | Blytheville Muni Ap | Mar 24 | Nov 6 | 227 |
| Lewisburg | Cornersville, Petersburg, Lynnville | Lewisburg Exp Stn | Apr 14 | Oct 22 | 192 |
| Lexington | Sardis, Wildersville, Enville, Huron, Jacks Creek | Lexington | Apr 5 | Oct 30 | 208 |
| Lobelville | Linden | Linden Wtp | Apr 12 | Oct 25 | 197 |
| Lynchburg | New Market, Hazel Green, Fayetteville, Flintville, Taft | Fayetteville Wtp | Apr 7 | Oct 28 | 201 |
| Lynchburg | — | Lynchburg | Apr 15 | Oct 25 | 192 |
| Martin | South Fulton, Dyer, Rutherford, Sharon, Wingo, Water Valley | Martin U Of T Branch E | Apr 4 | Oct 28 | 204 |
| Maryville | Louisville, Alcoa, Greenback, Rockford, Wildwood, Walland | Knoxville Mcghee Tyson Ap | Apr 1 | Nov 2 | 215 |
| McMinnville | Spencer, Morrison, Doyle, Viola | Mc Minnville | Apr 7 | Oct 30 | 203 |
| Memphis | — | Memphis Intl Ap | Mar 16 | Nov 16 | 244 |
| Mercer | Gadsden, Medon | Jackson Mckellar Ap | Apr 5 | Oct 29 | 207 |
| Milan | Trenton, Bradford, Atwood, Lavinia, Gibson | Milan Exp Stn | Apr 4 | Oct 28 | 206 |
| Monteagle | Sewanee, Sequatchie | Monteagle | Apr 10 | Oct 28 | 201 |
| Mooresburg | Rogersville, Baileyton, Bulls Gap | Rogersville 1 Ne | Apr 14 | Oct 24 | 192 |
| Morristown | Blaine, Jefferson, Bean Station, Rutledge, New Market, Luttrell, +1 more | Morristown Wfo | Mar 31 | Nov 4 | 217 |
| Mosheim | — | Greeneville Exp Stn | Apr 20 | Oct 22 | 185 |
| Mosheim | Dandridge, Newport, White Pine, Bulls Gap, Parrottsville | Newport 1 Nw | Apr 7 | Oct 29 | 203 |
| Mount Pleasant | Centerville, Hohenwald | Hohenwald | Apr 5 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Mount Pleasant | — | Mt Pleasant 1n | Apr 5 | Oct 28 | 204 |
| Murfreesboro | Smyrna, Christiana, Rockvale, Walterhill | Murfreesboro 5 N | Apr 9 | Oct 27 | 202 |
| Nashville-Davidson | Franklin, Thompson's Station, Nolensville, Eagleville | Franklin Sewage Plt | Apr 3 | Oct 31 | 210 |
| Nashville-Davidson | Goodlettsville | Springfield Exp Stn | Apr 9 | Oct 28 | 201 |
| Nashville-Davidson | Fairview, Kingston Springs, Pegram, White Bluff | Kingston Springs | Apr 13 | Oct 25 | 195 |
| Nashville-Davidson | Hendersonville, Mount Juliet | Old Hickory Wfo | Apr 1 | Nov 4 | 216 |
| Nashville-Davidson | — | Warner Park | Apr 6 | Nov 1 | 208 |
| Nashville-Davidson | La Vergne | Nashville Intl Ap | Mar 31 | Nov 3 | 217 |
| Newbern | Fulton, Kenton, Troy, Yorkville, Woodland Mills, Hornbeak, +2 more | Union City | Apr 3 | Oct 29 | 208 |
| Nolensville | — | Smyrna 6s | Apr 13 | Oct 21 | 189 |
| Norene | — | Gladeville | Apr 16 | Oct 21 | 187 |
| Oak Ridge | Coalfield, Farragut | Oak Ridge Atdd | Apr 5 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Paris | Henry, Buchanan, Big Sandy, Cottage Grove | Paris 2 Se | Apr 7 | Oct 31 | 206 |
| Pigeon Forge | Townsend | Gatlinburg 2 Sw | Apr 17 | Oct 25 | 189 |
| Portland | Cross Plains, Walnut Grove | Portland Sewage Plt | Apr 5 | Nov 1 | 210 |
| Pulaski | Dellrose, Elkton, Lester, Minor Hill, Prospect, Anderson, +1 more | Pulaski Wwtp | Apr 14 | Oct 24 | 193 |
| Sale Creek | Dayton, Decatur, Spring | Dayton 2se | Apr 4 | Oct 31 | 208 |
| Sevierville | Seymour, Mascot, Strawberry Plains, Fairgarden | Sevierville | Apr 6 | Oct 29 | 205 |
| Shelbyville | Unionville, Chapel Hill, Wartrace, Bell Buckle | Shelbyville Water Dept | Apr 7 | Oct 29 | 204 |
| Smithville | Baxter, Liberty, Dowelltown | Smithville 2 Se | Apr 18 | Oct 22 | 187 |
| Soddy-Daisy | — | Soddy Daisy-mowbray Mtn | Apr 7 | Oct 29 | 203 |
| South Cleveland | Wildwood Lake, Hopewell, Delano, Benton, Ducktown, Calhoun, +3 more | Cleveland Fltr Plt | Apr 6 | Oct 30 | 206 |
| South Pittsburg | Ider, Bridgeport, Hytop, Trenton | Bridgeport 5 Nw | Apr 7 | Oct 31 | 208 |
| Sparta | Doyle | Sparta Wastewater Plant | Apr 15 | Oct 23 | 191 |
| Spring | — | Spring City | Apr 11 | Oct 29 | 200 |
| Spring Hill | Thompson's Station | Neapolis Res & Edu Stn | Apr 5 | Oct 29 | 208 |
| Sweetwater | Spring, Niota, Philadelphia | Decatur 7ne | Apr 10 | Oct 27 | 199 |
| Telford | — | Erwin 1 W | Apr 21 | Oct 23 | 183 |
| Tellico Plains | — | Tellico Plains | Apr 13 | Oct 24 | 193 |
| Three Way | Medina | Jackson 4 Ne | Apr 4 | Oct 30 | 208 |
| Tiptonville | Bogota, Hayti, Portageville, Gideon, Miston, Wynnburg, +5 more | Portageville | Mar 25 | Nov 7 | 227 |
| Tullahoma | Estill Springs, Normandy | Tullahoma | Apr 6 | Oct 30 | 207 |
| Walnut Grove | Clifton, Waynesboro, Collinwood, Iron | Waynesboro | Apr 14 | Oct 24 | 192 |
| Waverly | Camden, New Johnsonville, Lobelville, Eva, Holladay | Camden | Apr 3 | Nov 1 | 214 |
| Westmoreland | — | Scottsville | Apr 15 | Oct 25 | 194 |
| Whiteside | Lookout Mountain | Lookout Mtn-point Park | Mar 31 | Nov 6 | 219 |
| Winchester * | Sewanee, Hytop, Cowan, Huntland, Sherwood, Belvidere | Winchester 5se | Apr 6 | Oct 29 | 204 |
* Winchester is this group's median-season location — the calendar below is computed from its data.
Data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (public domain) and USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Planting windows synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides.
Planting calendar (Winchester, representative)
Computed from Winchester's average frost dates — the median-season location in this Tennesseezone 7b group. hatched = start seeds indoors, solid green = plant out, teal = a fall sowing, and the terracotta dot marks the estimated first harvest. Ranges are extension-guide planning guidance, not guarantees — your own location's dates may run a week or two earlier or later (see the table above).
- Start indoors
- Plant out
- Fall sowing
- First harvest
| Crop | Frost tolerance | Start indoors | Plant out | First harvest | Fall planting | Season fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Tender | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | Jun 12 – Jul 2 | — | matures comfortably |
| Pepper | Very tender | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 20 – Apr 27 | Jun 19 – Jul 19 | — | matures comfortably |
| Cucumber | Tender | Mar 9 – Mar 16 | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | Jun 2 – Jun 22 | — | matures comfortably |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Tender | — | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | May 28 – Jun 12 | — | matures comfortably |
| Bush bean | Tender | — | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | Jun 2 – Jun 12 | Aug 30 – Sep 9 | matures comfortably |
| Sweet corn | Tender | — | Apr 6 – Apr 20 | Jun 5 – Jul 5 | — | matures comfortably |
| Basil | Very tender | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 13 – Apr 20 | May 13 – May 28 | — | matures comfortably |
| Lettuce | Half-hardy | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | Apr 23 – May 8 | Aug 16 – Aug 31 | matures comfortably |
| Pea | Hardy | — | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 19 – May 4 | Aug 6 – Aug 21 | matures comfortably |
| Spinach | Hardy | — | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 4 – Apr 14 | Aug 26 – Sep 5 | matures comfortably |
| Carrot | Half-hardy | — | Mar 16 – Mar 23 | May 15 – Jun 4 | Jul 27 – Aug 16 | matures comfortably |
| Broccoli | Half-hardy | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Mar 9 – Mar 23 | May 3 – May 23 | Aug 1 – Aug 21 | matures comfortably |
Which crops fit this growing season
Using Winchester's own 204-day growing season (32°F, NOAA 1991–2020 median) against each crop's real days-to-maturity range: 12 of 12 crops mature here with comfortable margin. A different location in the table above with a longer or shorter season will get a different mix — the ZIP planner on the home page gives your own.
Frost & freeze dates (Winchester)
From NOAA's 1991–2020 Climate Normals at station USC00409800. The median (p50) is the average date; the 90%-safe column is the date the freeze has passed in about 9 years out of 10 — the conservative date to plant after or harvest before.
| Threshold | Last spring — avg | Last spring — 90%-safe | First fall — avg | First fall — 90%-safe | Season (days) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 21 | May 8 | Oct 21 | Nov 1 | 182 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 6 | Apr 25 | Oct 29 | Nov 11 | 204 |
| 28°F | Mar 26 | Apr 10 | Nov 6 | Nov 24 | 229 |
| 24°F | Mar 12 | Apr 1 | Nov 17 | Dec 9 | 255 |
Growing degree days
Growing degree days (GDD) accumulate warmth above a base temperature over the year — a better predictor of crop development than the calendar alone. This group's median GDD (base 50°F) across all 103 locations is 4,495; Winchester's own reading is shown below.
| Model | °F·days | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Base 50°F (warm-season) | 4,548 | standard warm-season base (tomato, corn, beans) |
| Base 40°F (cool-season) | 7,407 | cool-season crops (brassicas, greens) |
Hardiness zone 7b in Tennessee
Zone 7b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of about 5 to 10 °F on the USDA's 2023 map — the number that tells you which perennials, shrubs, and trees reliably survive an average winter here. It does not set your planting dates, which come from the frost calendar above. Tennessee spans 4 hardiness zones in this dataset — see all Tennessee locations for the full range, including zones6b, 7a, 8a.
Explore zone 7b in other states at zone 7b, or see all USDA hardiness zones.
Frequently asked questions
- What does USDA hardiness zone 7b mean in Tennessee?
- Zone 7b means an average annual extreme minimum winter temperature of 5 to 10 °F — the standard USDA measure of which perennials survive winter. 103 locations in Tennessee fall in this zone. It does not set planting dates; see the frost calendar below for that.
- Where in Tennessee's zone 7b is the growing season longest?
- Memphis runs the longest season on this page at about 244 days; Ducktown is shortest at about 180 days — they share the same hardiness zone, but they sit at different weather stations, so their frost calendars differ.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Tennessee's zone 7b?
- Using Winchester's frost dates (this page's median-season location): start seeds indoors about Feb 9 – Feb 23, then transplant outside about Apr 13 – Apr 20. Your own location in the table above may differ by a week or two — use the ZIP planner on the home page for your exact station's dates.
- Does every location in Tennessee's zone 7b have the same frost dates?
- No — they do not all share a weather station, so frost dates vary by a week or more across the 103 locations listed (see the table above for each location's own dates).
Sources & method
Frost, freeze, growing-season, and growing-degree-day figures are NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, one reading per location's own nearest station (see the table above). The hardiness zone is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023, matched to each location's ZIP. Planting windows are computed by counting from the average last and first frost using per-crop offsets synthesized from U.S. Cooperative Extension guides — the full method and citations are on the methodology page.