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Frost dates and planting calendar for Franklin, Tennessee

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

USDA hardiness zone
7b[1]
Median last spring frost
Apr 3[2]
Median first fall frost
Oct 31[3]
Growing season, median
210 days[4]

Franklin, Tennessee is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map[1]. The median last spring frost at the nearest NOAA station is April 3[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Mar 17, half of years Apr 3, 1 in 10 years after Apr 20Last frostmedian Apr 3First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 13, half of years Oct 31, 1 in 10 years before Oct 18First frostmedian Oct 31Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Mar 6 to Mar 20Mar 6 to Mar 20Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 20 to Apr 3Mar 20 to Apr 3TenderTender vegetables: plant around Apr 3around Apr 3Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 17from Apr 17
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 dates come from NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals for the Franklin Sewage Plt weather station near the city center[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after April 3, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 20[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 31, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 18[3]. These are chances from past records and not promises, so any year can be earlier or later[2][3].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after March 17 after April 3 after April 20
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 18 before October 31 before November 13
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date March 22, median first fall date November 10[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 190 days in 9 of 10 years, 210 days in half of years and 233 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: Franklin Sewage Plt (USC00403280), 2.1 miles from the city center, 655 feet, 25 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which works out to March 6 to March 20 in Franklin[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, which is March 20[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be started from seed around April 3[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, and April 17 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 3) is March 6 to March 20[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (April 3) is March 20, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, April 3[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (April 3), is April 17[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Mar 6 May 10 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Mar 6 May 30 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Mar 6 Apr 25
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Mar 6 May 5
Onions (hardy)[12] Mar 6 Jun 24
Peas (hardy)[12] Mar 6 May 10
Radishes (hardy)[12] Mar 6 Apr 5
Spinach (hardy)[12] Mar 6 Apr 15
Turnips (hardy)[12] Mar 6 Apr 25
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 20 May 19
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 20 May 29
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 20 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 20 May 29
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 20 Jul 23
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 20 May 19
Snap beans (tender)[12] Apr 3 Jun 2
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Apr 3 Jun 2
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Apr 3 May 28
Summer squash (tender)[12] Apr 3 May 23
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 17 Jul 11
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 17 Jun 16 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 17 Jun 26 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 17 Jun 21 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 17 Jul 26
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 17 Jul 11
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 7b means an average yearly coldest night of 5°F to 10°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on winter lows and not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. All of Franklin's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7b[15].

Zone 7b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 5°F to 10°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 7.7°F[1].

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

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

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
37064[15] 7b 5 to 10°F
37067[15] 7b 5 to 10°F
37069[15] 7b 5 to 10°F
37027[15] 7b 5 to 10°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Franklin, Tennessee?
The center of Franklin is in USDA zone 7b on the 2023 map[1]. By land area, 100% of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7b[15].
When is the last frost in Franklin, TN?
In half of years the last spring frost at the nearby NOAA station comes after April 3[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 20[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Franklin, TN?
CSU Extension says tomatoes are very tender and typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost[11]. Using the median last frost of April 3, the earliest start is April 17[11].
When is the first frost in Franklin, TN?
In half of years the first fall frost comes before October 31[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 18[3].
How long is the growing season in Franklin, TN?
The season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 210 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 190 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Franklin, Tennessee in zone 7b. Zone 7b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 5°F to 10°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 7.7°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 17, in half of years after April 3, and in 1 of 10 years after April 20 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is April 3. 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 18, in half of years before October 31, and in 9 of 10 years before November 13 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is October 31. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 190 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 210 days in half of years, and at least 233 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Franklin Sewage Plt weather station (USC00403280), 2.1 miles from the center of Franklin at 655 feet, using 25 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 March 22 and the median first fall date is November 10. 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. Franklin, Tennessee overlaps 4 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 7b. 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.