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Frost dates and planting calendar for Cookeville, Tennessee

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
7a[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 14[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 25[3]
Growing season, median
195 days[4]

Cookeville, Tennessee is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map[1]. The median last spring frost at the nearest NOAA station is April 14, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 29, half of years Apr 14, 1 in 10 years after Apr 30Last frostmedian Apr 14First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 7, half of years Oct 25, 1 in 10 years before Oct 12First frostmedian Oct 25Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 17 to Mar 31Mar 17 to Mar 31Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 31 to Apr 14Mar 31 to Apr 14TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 14around Apr 14Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 28from Apr 28
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Cookeville weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after March 29, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 30[2]. In the fall, the median first frost is October 25, so in half of years the first frost comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 12[3]. These are odds from past records, not a forecast, and any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 29 after April 14 after April 30
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 12 before October 25 before November 7
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date April 1, median first fall date November 3[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 175 days in 9 of 10 years, 195 days in half of years and 217 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Cookeville (USC00402009), 2.8 miles from the city center, 1,090 feet, 27 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so treat these dates as a starting point[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which works out to March 17 to March 31[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and beets can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, which is March 31[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be seeded around the median last frost, April 14[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after it, so April 28 is the earliest start[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (April 14) is March 17 to March 31[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 14) is March 31, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 14[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 14), is April 28[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 17 May 21 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 17 Jun 10 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 17 May 6
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 17 May 16
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 17 Jul 5
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 17 May 21
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 17 Apr 16
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 17 Apr 26
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 17 May 6
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 31 May 30
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 31 Jun 9
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 31 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 31 Jun 9
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 31 Aug 3
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 31 May 30
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 14 Jun 13
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 14 Jun 13
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 14 Jun 8
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 14 Jun 3
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 28 Jul 22
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 28 Jun 27 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 28 Jul 7 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 28 Jul 2 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 28 Aug 6
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 28 Jul 22
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 7a means the average coldest night of the year was 0°F to 5°F from 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone does not tell you about summer heat or frost dates[14]. Cookeville overlaps 3 ZIP code areas, and all of the city's land area lies in areas rated zone 7a[15].

Zone 7a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 0°F to 5°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 4.6°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 7a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 7a and what zone 7a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
38501[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
38506[15] 7a 0 to 5°F
38503[15] 7a 0 to 5°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Cookeville, Tennessee?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Cookeville in zone 7a[1]. All of the city's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated 7a[15].
When is the last frost in Cookeville?
The median last spring frost is April 14, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 30[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Cookeville?
CSU Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, which makes April 28 the earliest start here[11]. CSU's guide was written for Colorado[6].
When is the first frost in Cookeville?
The median first fall frost is October 25, so in half of years it comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 12[3].
How long is the growing season in Cookeville?
The growing season is at least 195 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 175 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Cookeville, Tennessee in zone 7a. Zone 7a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 0°F to 5°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 4.6°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after March 29, in half of years after April 14, and in 1 of 10 years after April 30 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 14. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 12, in half of years before October 25, and in 9 of 10 years before November 7 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 25. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 175 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 195 days in half of years, and at least 217 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Cookeville weather station (USC00402009), 2.8 miles from the center of Cookeville at 1,090 feet, using 27 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is April 1 and the median first fall date is November 3. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Cookeville, Tennessee overlaps 3 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.