Memphis, Tennessee: planting zone & frost dates
Memphis is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 10 to 15°F (-12.2 to -9.4°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 24 and the first fall frost around Nov 9.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Apr 4 | Nov 2 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Mar 24 | Nov 9 |
| Median (50%) | Mar 16 | Nov 16 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station MEMPHIS INTL AP, TN (USW00013893), 3.8 mi (6.1 km) from the city center and 59 ft lower than the city center (-18 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 30 years.
Hardiness zone across Memphis
All 29 ZIP codes covering Memphis are in zone 8a.
ZIP codes in Memphis and their zones
| ZIP | Zone | Share of city land |
|---|---|---|
| 38109 | 8a | 14.9% |
| 38118 | 8a | 10.3% |
| 38116 | 8a | 6.6% |
| 38127 | 8a | 6.3% |
| 38128 | 8a | 6.3% |
| 38113 | 8a | 5.1% |
| 38134 | 8a | 4.6% |
| 38106 | 8a | 3.5% |
| 38018 | 8a | 3.4% |
| 38016 | 8a | 3.3% |
| 38111 | 8a | 3.3% |
| 38117 | 8a | 3.2% |
| 38120 | 8a | 3.2% |
| 38119 | 8a | 3.0% |
| 38115 | 8a | 2.9% |
| 38108 | 8a | 2.6% |
| 38114 | 8a | 2.6% |
| 38122 | 8a | 2.3% |
| 38141 | 8a | 2.1% |
| 38107 | 8a | 1.8% |
| 38104 | 8a | 1.7% |
| 38112 | 8a | 1.6% |
| 38133 | 8a | 1.3% |
| 38125 | 8a | 1.1% |
| 38103 | 8a | 0.9% |
| 38105 | 8a | 0.6% |
| 38126 | 8a | 0.6% |
| 38132 | 8a | 0.3% |
| 38131 | 8a | 0.1% |
Vegetable planting calendar for Memphis
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 24, first frost Nov 9). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Mar 10 – Mar 31 | Feb 24 – Apr 7 | Aug 31 – Sep 28 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Mar 31 – May 5 | Aug 17 – Aug 31 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Mar 31 – Apr 28 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Feb 24 – Mar 3 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Aug 17 – Aug 31 |
| Cucumber | Feb 24 – Mar 3 | Apr 7 – Apr 14 | Mar 31 – Apr 21 | Aug 17 – Aug 31 |
| Carrot | — | — | Mar 3 – Apr 7 | Aug 17 – Aug 31 |
| Onion | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Feb 24 – Mar 17 | — | — |
| Basil | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | Apr 7 – Apr 28 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Feb 10 – Mar 10 | Sep 14 – Oct 12 |
| Kale | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Feb 24 – Mar 17 | Feb 24 – Mar 17 | Aug 31 – Sep 28 |
| Broccoli | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Mar 10 – Mar 31 | — | Aug 17 – Aug 31 |
| Peas | — | — | Feb 10 – Mar 3 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Eggplant | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Apr 7 – Apr 21 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Jan 27 – Feb 10 | Feb 24 – Mar 10 | — | Aug 17 – Aug 31 |
| Radish | — | — | Feb 17 – Apr 7 | Sep 28 – Oct 26 |
| Strawberry | — | Feb 24 – Mar 17 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Mar 3 – Apr 14 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
Nearby cities in Tennessee
- Clarksville — zone 7b, last frost Apr 10, first frost Oct 27
- Franklin — zone 7b, last frost Apr 10, first frost Oct 25
- Nashville — zone 7b, last frost Apr 7, first frost Oct 25
- Murfreesboro — zone 7b, last frost Apr 15, first frost Oct 22
- Chattanooga — zone 8a, last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 3
- Knoxville — zone 7b, last frost Apr 19, first frost Oct 22
More: all Tennessee cities · other zone 8a cities: Charlotte, NC, Atlanta, GA, Raleigh, NC, Greensboro, NC, Durham, NC, Winston-Salem, NC, Chesapeake, VA, Huntsville, AL