Franklin, Tennessee planting calendar and frost dates
Franklin is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 31 and the first fall frost around November 3, giving about 217 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7b
- Typical last frost
- March 31
- Typical first frost
- November 3
- Frost-free season
- 217 days
Frost dates in Franklin
Last spring frost
- March 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 31Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 22Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 3Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 18Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 217 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 17 and returns around November 15.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Nashville International Airport, 6.4 miles SE of the city center and 178 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 Franklin
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, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
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, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, 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, swiss chard, 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 Franklin
Franklin's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 31 in 37064 to April 3 in 37069. Every one of them is in zone 7b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37064 | 7b | Nashville International Airport, 6.4 mi SE | Mar 31 | Nov 3 |
| 37067 | 7b | Franklin Sewage Plt, 5.9 mi WNW | Apr 3 | Oct 31 |
| 37069 | 7b | Franklin Sewage Plt, 3.5 mi SSE | Apr 3 | Oct 31 |
Nashville International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Nashville-Davidson, so their planting calendars match Franklin's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Franklin
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Apr 13 to 27 | Jul 21 to 28 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 4 to Sep 8 |
| Cilantro | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Mar 31 to Apr 7 | — |
| Basil | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 13 to 20 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 12 to 19 | Jul 14 to 21 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Nov 3 to 17 |
| Onions | Dec 9 to Jan 20 | Mar 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 4 to 18 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 26 to Feb 23 | Apr 13 to 27 | Jul 14 to Aug 11 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 10 to 31 | Aug 11 to Sep 1 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 13 to 27 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Jul 28 to Aug 11 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 11 to 18 |
| Zucchini | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 11 to 25 |
| Broccoli | Jan 13 to Feb 3 | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 18 to Sep 15 |
| Peas | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Aug 11 to 25 |
| Spinach | Feb 17 to 24 | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Aug 25 to Sep 29 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 31 to Apr 21 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 21 to 28 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 22 to Nov 17 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 22 to Nov 3 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Sep 22 to Oct 6 |
Nearby cities
- Spring Hill, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 5
- Nashville-Davidson, TN zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
- Smyrna, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 9
- Columbia, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 10
- Murfreesboro, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 9
- Hendersonville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
Planting in TennesseeAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Franklin
Questions
When is the last frost in Franklin?
Around March 31 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Nashville International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 16.
What planting zone is Franklin 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 Franklin?
Start seeds indoors February 16 to March 2 and set plants out April 13 to 27; the safest date to plant out is after April 16.
When is the first frost in Franklin?
Around November 3 in a typical year, and before October 22 about 1 year in 10.