Clarksville, Tennessee planting calendar and frost dates
Clarksville is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 3 and the first fall frost around November 1, giving about 212 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 3
- Typical first frost
- November 1
- Frost-free season
- 212 days
Frost dates in Clarksville
Last spring frost
- March 19Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 3Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 20Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 20Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 14Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 212 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around March 22 and returns around November 11.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Clarksville Wwtp, 1.8 miles NE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Clarksville
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Clarksville
All 4 of Clarksville's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Clarksville Wwtp, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 7a in 42223, and 7b in 37040, 37042, 37043.
Planting dates for popular crops in Clarksville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 19 to 26 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 2 to Sep 6 |
| Cilantro | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 10 | — |
| Basil | Feb 28 to Mar 14 | Apr 18 to 25 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 18 to 25 | Jul 12 to 19 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Nov 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Dec 12 to Jan 23 | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 31 to Feb 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Jul 12 to Aug 9 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 13 to Apr 3 | Aug 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 5 to 12 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 9 to 16 |
| Zucchini | Mar 21 to Apr 4 | Apr 18 to May 2 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Broccoli | Jan 16 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 16 to Sep 13 |
| Peas | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Feb 20 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 23 to Sep 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 3 to 24 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 26 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
Nearby cities
- Nashville-Davidson, TN zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
- Hendersonville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- Gallatin, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- Franklin, TN zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
- Bowling Green, KY zone 7a, last frost Apr 5
- Lebanon, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 10
Planting in TennesseeAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Clarksville
Questions
When is the last frost in Clarksville?
Around April 3 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Clarksville Wwtp. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 20.
What planting zone is Clarksville in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 7a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Clarksville?
Start seeds indoors February 21 to March 7 and set plants out April 18 to May 2; the safest date to plant out is after April 20.
When is the first frost in Clarksville?
Around November 1 in a typical year, and before October 20 about 1 year in 10.