Columbia, Tennessee planting calendar and frost dates
Columbia is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 10 and the first fall frost around October 27, giving about 199 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7b
- Typical last frost
- April 10
- Typical first frost
- October 27
- Frost-free season
- 199 days
Frost dates in Columbia
Last spring frost
- March 26Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 26Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 16Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 27Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 7Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 199 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 29 and returns around November 5.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Columbia 3 Wnw, 3.7 miles W 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 Columbia
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: 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, celery, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, 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: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, 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: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, 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, hyacinths, 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, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Planting dates for popular crops in Columbia
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 13 to 27 | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 28 to Sep 1 |
| Cilantro | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Mar 6 to 20 | Apr 24 to May 1 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 21 to 28 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Oct 27 to Nov 10 |
| Onions | Dec 19 to Jan 30 | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 6 to Mar 6 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 20 to Apr 10 | Aug 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 20 to Apr 3 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 23 to Feb 13 | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 11 to Sep 8 |
| Peas | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Spinach | Feb 27 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 18 to Sep 22 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | — |
| Zinnias | May 3 to 10 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 15 to Nov 10 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 15 to Oct 27 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Sep 15 to 29 |
Nearby cities
- Spring Hill, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 5
- Franklin, TN zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
- Smyrna, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 9
- Murfreesboro, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 9
- Nashville-Davidson, TN zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
- Hendersonville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
Planting in TennesseeAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Columbia
Questions
When is the last frost in Columbia?
Around April 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Columbia 3 Wnw. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 26.
What planting zone is Columbia in?
USDA hardiness zone 7b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Columbia?
Start seeds indoors February 27 to March 13 and set plants out April 24 to May 8; the safest date to plant out is after April 26.
When is the first frost in Columbia?
Around October 27 in a typical year, and before October 16 about 1 year in 10.