Jackson, Tennessee planting calendar and frost dates
Jackson is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 2 and the first fall frost around October 29, giving about 207 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7b
- Typical last frost
- April 2
- Typical first frost
- October 29
- Frost-free season
- 207 days
Frost dates in Jackson
Last spring frost
- March 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 18Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 16Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 29Typical: 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 207 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 7.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Jackson Exp Stn, 7 miles SW 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 Jackson
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, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, perennial ryegrass, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, 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
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, 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 Jackson
Jackson's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 2 in 38305 to April 5 in 38301. Every one of them is in zone 7b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Jackson
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Cilantro | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 15 to 22 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 15 to 22 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Onions | Dec 11 to Jan 22 | Mar 5 to 19 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 to 30 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 28 to Feb 25 | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 12 to Apr 2 | Aug 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 15 to 29 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 15 to Feb 5 | Mar 5 to 19 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Peas | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Feb 19 to 26 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 2 to 23 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 22 to 29 | May 20 to Jun 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 17 to Nov 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 17 to Oct 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
Nearby cities
- Bartlett, TN zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Collierville, TN zone 8a, last frost Mar 29
- Memphis, TN zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Southaven, MS zone 8a, last frost Mar 16
- Columbia, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 10
- Jonesboro, AR zone 8a, last frost Mar 23
Planting in TennesseeAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Jackson
Questions
When is the last frost in Jackson?
Around April 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Jackson Exp Stn. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 18.
What planting zone is Jackson 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 Jackson?
Start seeds indoors February 18 to March 4 and set plants out April 15 to 29; the safest date to plant out is after April 18.
When is the first frost in Jackson?
Around October 29 in a typical year, and before October 16 about 1 year in 10.