Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Memphis, Tennessee

Typical last spring frost March 16 (1 spring in 10 later than April 4). Typical first fall frost November 16 (1 fall in 10 earlier than November 2). Growing season about 244 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until February 27 and fades out by April 4. It is unlikely from then until November 2, and likely again after December 3. The dashed lines are the typical dates, March 16 and November 16.

January

  • January 12 to February 9: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)
  • January 26 to February 16: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)

February

  • February 2 to 16: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • February 9 to 23: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)
  • February 16 to March 2: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • February 16 to March 2: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)

March

  • March 2 to 16: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • March 2 to 16: Cauliflower (plant out)
  • March 16: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
  • March 30: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • March 30: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

April

Nothing to start this month.

May

Nothing to start this month.

June

  • June 21 to July 5: Cabbage for fall (start seeds)

July

  • July 11 to 25: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

August

  • August 20: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 24: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 25: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 29: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 30: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 3: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 13: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 23: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)

October

  • October 3: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

November

  • November 2: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

December

  • December 5 to 12: Garlic (plant cloves)
  • December 29 to January 26: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Memphis International Airport (station USW00013893), 4 miles from the center of Memphis. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/tennessee/memphis/

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