Kingsport, Tennessee planting calendar and frost dates
Kingsport is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 9 and the first fall frost around October 29, giving about 203 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 9
- Typical first frost
- October 29
- Frost-free season
- 203 days
Frost dates in Kingsport
Last spring frost
- March 25Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 9Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 25Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 29Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 10Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 203 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 28 and returns around November 6.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kingsport, 2.5 miles ESE of the city center and 132 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 Kingsport
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, 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, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, green onions, 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, 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 Kingsport
Kingsport's 6 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from April 9 in 37660 to April 16 in 37663. Every one of them is in zone 7b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37617 | 7b | Bristol Tri City Airport, 4.2 mi SSW | Apr 16 | Oct 24 |
| 37660 | 7b | Kingsport, 2.5 mi ESE | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
| 37663 | 7b | Bristol Tri City Airport, 4.7 mi E | Apr 16 | Oct 24 |
| 37664 | 7b | Kingsport, 1.2 mi NW | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
| 37665 | 7b | Kingsport, 4.9 mi SSE | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
| 37857 | 7b | Rogersville 1 Ne, 2.4 mi WSW | Apr 14 | Oct 24 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Kingsport
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 12 to 26 | Apr 2 to 16 | Jul 30 to Sep 3 |
| Cilantro | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Basil | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 23 to 30 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
| Onions | Dec 18 to Jan 29 | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 5 to Mar 5 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 19 to Apr 9 | Aug 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 9 to 23 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 22 to Feb 12 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 13 to Sep 10 |
| Peas | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Aug 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Feb 26 to Mar 5 | Apr 2 to 16 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 9 to 30 | — |
| Zinnias | May 5 to 12 | Jun 2 to 16 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 17 to Nov 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 17 to Oct 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
Nearby cities
- Johnson City, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 19
- Asheville, NC zone 7b, last frost Apr 6
- Knoxville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 11
- Greer, SC zone 8a, last frost Mar 28
- Mooresville, NC zone 8a, last frost Apr 9
- Gastonia, NC zone 8a, last frost Mar 24
Planting in TennesseeAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Kingsport
Questions
When is the last frost in Kingsport?
Around April 9 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Kingsport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 25.
What planting zone is Kingsport 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 Kingsport?
Start seeds indoors February 26 to March 12 and set plants out April 23 to May 7; the safest date to plant out is after April 25.
When is the first frost in Kingsport?
Around October 29 in a typical year, and before October 15 about 1 year in 10.