Memphis, TN Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Memphis, Tennessee.
Gardening in Memphis
Memphis gardening runs on the same soul that powers the music: deep roots, genuine expression, and a connection to place that you can taste. The Mississippi River bottomland surrounding the city is some of the most fertile soil in America, and Memphis gardeners — from Midtown to Orange Mound — have been growing food in it for generations.
The river influence is real. Memphis is warmer and more humid than Nashville, with 225 frost-free days and a growing season that supports both Southern staples and extended warm-season production. Summer heat and humidity are intense — this is the northern edge of cotton country, and the air feels like it. But that same warmth and moisture grow extraordinary tomatoes, peppers, okra, and sweet potatoes.
Grizzlies fans know about grit and grind — Memphis gardeners live it in August when the humidity hits 95% and the mosquitoes could be mistaken for small birds. The Cooper-Young neighborhood's community gardens and the South Memphis food desert initiatives prove that gardening in Memphis is about community nourishment, not just personal produce. And if your garden shares a fence with someone who grows their own hot peppers, you're going to learn about Memphis BBQ culture whether you planned to or not.
What This Means for Memphis Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Memphis is around March 25, and the average first fall frost arrives around November 5. That gives you approximately 225 frost-free days to work with.
That's a generous season. You have time for full-size tomatoes, long-season peppers, and even watermelons without the anxiety of racing the frost. Start warm-season seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before your last frost to hit the ground running. Fall planting is your second opportunity — garlic, kale, lettuce, and broccoli all go in 8-10 weeks before your first frost for harvest into late autumn.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Memphis area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Memphis
Memphis's 225-day growing season is generous — long enough for two full growing windows (spring and fall) with warm-season crops between them. You can grow the full range of vegetables, herbs, and flowers with proper timing. Focus on heat-tolerant varieties for midsummer and cool-season crops for extended fall harvests. Recommended starting points: tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash, garlic, kale, and sunflowers.
See the full Tennessee planting guide for all 40 plants: Tennessee Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Memphis.
More About Zone 7B
Memphis is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7B, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between 5°F to 10°F. View the full Zone 7B planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Tennessee: Tennessee Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Tennessee
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Memphis area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Memphis (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
Cool-season crops go in 3-4 weeks before your last frost (March 25). Warm-season crops wait until 2 weeks after. You have time for a fall round too — plant cool-season crops again in late summer for harvest into autumn. Enter your zip code for exact dates.