Greenly Garden
Get the app
EN

Last and first frost dates in Chattanooga

United States

In Chattanooga the last spring frost usually comes around 20 March and the first autumn frost around 12 November, which leaves about 237 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 28 March to 23 July.

Last spring frostaround 20 March
First autumn frostaround 12 November
Frost-free days237 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Chattanooga?

The last frost in Chattanooga usually comes around 20 March: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 27 February, while corn waits until 27 March. The first autumn frost follows around 12 November, about 237 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha25 January – 4 August6 March – 13 September27 March – 13 September
Ageratumfrom 10 January—from 28 March
Arugula——sow 27 February – 8 October
Basil27 February – 10 September6 April – 18 October27 April – 18 October
Beet——sow 27 February – 13 September
Bell Pepper5 February – 24 May6 April – 23 July27 April – 23 July
Black-eyed Susanfrom 3 January—from 27 March
Bok Choy30 January – 21 September6 March – 26 October27 March – 26 October
Borage——sow 27 March – 18 September
Broad bean——sow 27 February – 4 August
Broccoli——sow 27 February – 28 July
Brussels Sprouts23 December – 25 June6 February – 9 August27 February – 9 August
Busy Lizziefrom 2 January—from 27 March
Cabbage——sow 27 February – 5 July
Calendula——sow from 27 February
Carrot——sow 27 February – 20 August
Cauliflower26 December – 28 July6 February – 8 September27 February – 8 September
Celeriac19 December – 25 May6 March – 10 August27 March – 10 August
Celery19 December – 4 June6 March – 20 August27 March – 20 August
Celosiafrom 29 Januaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Chamomile——sow 27 February – 8 September
Chayote8 December – 18 May6 March – 14 August27 March – 14 August
Chickpea——sow 27 February – 25 July
Chicory12 January – 19 August—27 February – 13 September
Chili Pepper5 February – 30 June6 April – 29 August27 April – 29 August
China asterfrom 13 Februaryfrom 6 Aprilfrom 27 April
Chives——sow 27 February – 30 August
Cilantro——sow 27 February – 9 September
Corn——sow 27 March – 25 July
Corn poppy——sow from 27 February
Cosmosfrom 29 Januaryfrom 15 Marchfrom 5 April
Cucumber9 March – 31 July6 April – 28 August27 April – 28 August
Daikon——sow 27 February – 6 September
Delphiniumfrom 9 December—from 27 February
Dill——sow 27 February – 19 September
Edging lobeliafrom 2 January—from 27 March
Eggplant5 February – 24 May6 April – 23 July27 April – 23 July
Florence fennel20 January – 4 August6 March – 18 September27 March – 18 September
Foxglovefrom 21 November—from 27 February
Garden sorrel——sow 27 February – 7 September
Green Beans——sow 5 April – 2 August
Hollyhock——sow from 27 February
Hyssop——sow 27 February – 31 July
Kale——sow 27 February – 1 September
Kiwano3 February – 7 August7 March – 8 September28 March – 8 September
Kohlrabi——sow 27 February – 11 September
Leek28 November – 16 May6 February – 25 July27 February – 25 July
Lemon balm——sow 27 February – 3 September
Lettuce——sow 27 February – 16 September
Lisianthusfrom 11 Novemberfrom 6 Februaryfrom 27 February
Lovage——sow from 27 February
Luffa23 February – 1 June6 April – 13 July27 April – 13 July
Marigoldfrom 23 Januaryfrom 6 Marchfrom 27 March
Marjoram5 February – 19 August—27 April – 18 October
Melon9 March – 18 July6 April – 15 August27 April – 15 August
Microgreens——sow 5 April – 29 October
Moringa17 February – 24 August13 April – 18 October4 May – 18 October
Moss rosefrom 9 January—from 27 March
Mustard greens——sow 27 February – 28 September
Napa cabbage1 February – 29 August6 March – 1 October27 March – 1 October
Nasturtiumfrom 27 Januaryfrom 6 Marchfrom 27 March
Okra23 February – 12 August6 April – 23 September27 April – 23 September
Oregano8 December – 9 August6 February – 8 October27 February – 8 October
Pansyfrom 12 Decemberfrom 6 Februaryfrom 27 February
Parsley——sow 27 February – 28 August
Parsnip——sow 27 February – 17 July
Peanut28 February – 8 July6 April – 14 August27 April – 14 August
Peas——sow 27 February – 30 August
Petuniafrom 2 Februaryfrom 6 Aprilfrom 27 April
Physalis21 January – 5 July7 March – 19 August28 March – 19 August
Pumpkin23 February – 6 June6 April – 18 July27 April – 18 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 6 December—from 27 February
Radish——sow 27 February – 13 October
Sage19 December – 5 August6 February – 23 September27 February – 23 September
Scarlet sagefrom 14 January—from 28 March
Snapdragonfrom 3 Decemberfrom 6 Februaryfrom 27 February
Soybean——sow 27 April – 24 August
Spinach——sow 27 February – 18 September
Stevia17 January – 26 June7 March – 14 August28 March – 14 August
Stock——sow from 27 February
Sunflower——sow from 5 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 27 February
Sweet Corn12 February – 19 August6 March – 10 September27 March – 10 September
Sweet peafrom 26 Decemberfrom 6 Februaryfrom 27 February
Sweet William——sow from 27 February
Swiss Chard——sow 27 February – 13 September
Thyme——sow 27 February – 25 July
Tomato14 January – 1 June7 March – 23 July28 March – 23 July
Turnip——sow 27 February – 15 September
Watercress——sow 27 February – 26 September
Watermelon9 March – 6 July6 April – 3 August27 April – 3 August
Zinniafrom 9 Marchfrom 13 Aprilfrom 4 May
Zucchini16 March – 5 August6 April – 26 August27 April – 26 August

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Chattanooga

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 39 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 8 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C9 February39 days earlier
15 °C28 March8 days later
18 °C27 April38 days later

Frost dates near Chattanooga

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Athens (United States) (12 March) and latest in Knoxville (29 March).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Huntsville127 km20 March14 November
Knoxville156 km29 March12 November
Atlanta167 km15 March22 November
Nashville184 km24 March14 November
Athens (United States)212 km12 March22 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Chattanooga

Within 15 km of Chattanooga OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 1 plant nursery, 4 markets and 1 farm shop (collected 29 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is America's Gardening Center, 8 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Chattanooga

Frosts in Chattanooga usually come from about 12 November to about 20 March. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Chattanooga by month

Average weather in Chattanooga over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (22–32.5 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30.6 °C), July (32.5 °C) and August (31.6 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 0.9 °C. About 1313 mm of rain falls in a year, on 129 days; February is the wettest month (153 mm) and November the driest (74 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January10.40.912510
February14.64.115313
March186.713911
April229.911710
May26.615.211612
June30.619.49713
July32.521.810916
August31.620.910313
September29.418.4938
October23.812.5777
November17.26.3747
December12.63.11109

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 13 October
Crocusby 13 October
Daffodilby 13 October
Garlic13 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 13 October
Helleboreby 13 October
Hyacinthby 13 October
Lilyby 13 October
Ornamental onionby 13 October
Peonyby 13 October
Saffronby 13 October
Snowdropby 13 October
Tulipby 13 October
Wild garlicby 13 October

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).