Lebanon, Tennessee planting calendar and frost dates
Lebanon is in USDA hardiness zone 7b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 10 and the first fall frost around October 30, giving about 202 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 7b
- Typical last frost
- April 10
- Typical first frost
- October 30
- Frost-free season
- 202 days
Frost dates in Lebanon
Last spring frost
- March 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 29Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 18Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- October 30Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 12Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 202 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 9.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lebanon 7 N, 2.4 miles N 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 Lebanon
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, 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, zinnias, 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, 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, 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 Lebanon
Lebanon's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 31 in 37122 to April 16 in 37090. Every one of them is in zone 7b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lebanon
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 13 to 27 | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 31 to Sep 4 |
| Cilantro | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Apr 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 22 to 29 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Oct 30 to Nov 13 |
| Onions | Dec 19 to Jan 30 | Mar 13 to 27 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Apr 24 to May 8 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 5 to Mar 5 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Mar 20 to Apr 10 | Aug 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 9 to 16 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 10 to 24 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Jan 23 to Feb 13 | Mar 13 to 27 | Aug 14 to Sep 11 |
| Peas | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Aug 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Feb 27 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 17 | Aug 21 to Sep 25 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 10 to May 1 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 29 to May 6 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 18 to Nov 13 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 18 to Oct 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Sep 18 to Oct 2 |
Nearby cities
- Gallatin, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- Hendersonville, TN zone 7b, last frost Apr 1
- 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
- Franklin, TN zone 7b, last frost Mar 31
Planting in TennesseeAbout zone 7bPrintable calendar for Lebanon
Questions
When is the last frost in Lebanon?
Around April 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lebanon 7 N. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 29.
What planting zone is Lebanon 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 Lebanon?
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 29.
When is the first frost in Lebanon?
Around October 30 in a typical year, and before October 18 about 1 year in 10.