Cleveland, Tennessee planting calendar and frost dates
Cleveland is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 6 and the first fall frost around October 30, giving about 206 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 6
- Typical first frost
- October 30
- Frost-free season
- 206 days
Frost dates in Cleveland
Last spring frost
- March 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 6Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 21Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 18Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 30Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 11Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 206 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 26 and returns around November 8.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Cleveland Fltr Plt, 4.7 miles E of the city center and 129 feet higher. 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 Cleveland
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, kale, 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, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, 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, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, daylilies, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
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, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Cleveland
All 3 of Cleveland's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Cleveland Fltr Plt, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 7b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Cleveland
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Jul 31 to Sep 4 |
| Cilantro | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 6 to 13 | — |
| Basil | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 17 to 24 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 16 to 23 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Oct 30 to Nov 13 |
| Onions | Dec 15 to Jan 26 | Mar 9 to 23 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 20 to May 4 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 30 to Feb 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 16 to Apr 6 | Aug 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 6 to 13 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 13 to 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 6 to 20 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 19 to Feb 9 | Mar 9 to 23 | Aug 14 to Sep 11 |
| Peas | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Feb 23 to Mar 2 | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 6 to 27 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 28 to May 5 | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 18 to Nov 13 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 18 to Oct 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Sep 18 to Oct 2 |
Nearby cities
- Chattanooga, TN zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Knoxville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 11
- Alpharetta, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- Roswell, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
- Marietta, GA zone 8a, last frost Apr 2
- Johns Creek, GA zone 8a, last frost Mar 25
Planting in TennesseeAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Cleveland
Questions
When is the last frost in Cleveland?
Around April 6 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Cleveland Fltr Plt. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 21.
What planting zone is Cleveland in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cleveland?
Start seeds indoors February 20 to March 6 and set plants out April 17 to May 1; the safest date to plant out is after April 21.
When is the first frost in Cleveland?
Around October 30 in a typical year, and before October 18 about 1 year in 10.