Johnson City, Tennessee planting calendar and frost dates
Johnson City is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 19 and the first fall frost around October 24, giving about 187 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 19
- Typical first frost
- October 24
- Frost-free season
- 187 days
Frost dates in Johnson City
Last spring frost
- April 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 19Typical: a later frost in half of years
- May 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 10Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 5Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 187 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 April 5 and returns around November 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Elizabethton, 8.4 miles ENE of the city center and 248 feet lower. 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 Johnson City
January
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
March
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, green onions, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard
August
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, 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, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, 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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Johnson City
Johnson City's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 16 in 37615 to April 19 in 37604. Every one of them is in zone 7b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Johnson City
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 6 to 20 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Mar 8 to 22 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 12 to 26 | Jul 25 to Aug 29 |
| Cilantro | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Mar 13 to 27 | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 29 to Apr 5 | — |
| Garlic | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Oct 24 to Nov 7 |
| Onions | Dec 28 to Feb 8 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 3 to 17 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 5 to 19 | May 3 to 17 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 13 to Mar 13 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 29 to Apr 19 | Aug 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 19 to 26 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Green Beans | — | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 3 to 17 | May 1 to 15 | — |
| Broccoli | Feb 1 to 22 | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Aug 8 to Sep 5 |
| Peas | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Aug 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Mar 8 to 15 | Apr 12 to 26 | Aug 15 to Sep 19 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 19 to May 10 | — |
| Zinnias | May 12 to 19 | Jun 9 to 23 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 12 to Nov 7 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 12 to Oct 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Mar 8 to 22 | Sep 12 to 26 |
Nearby cities
- Kingsport, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 9
- Asheville, NC zone 7b, last frost Apr 6
- Knoxville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 11
- Greer, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Gastonia, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
- Mooresville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 9
Planting in TennesseeAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Johnson City
Questions
When is the last frost in Johnson City?
Around April 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Elizabethton. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after May 7.
What planting zone is Johnson City 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 Johnson City?
Start seeds indoors March 6 to 20 and set plants out May 1 to 15; the safest date to plant out is after May 7.
When is the first frost in Johnson City?
Around October 24 in a typical year, and before October 10 about 1 year in 10.