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Last and first frost dates in Memphis

United States

In Memphis the last spring frost usually comes around 10 March and the first autumn frost around 23 November, which leaves about 258 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 23 March to 3 August.

Last spring frostaround 10 March
First autumn frostaround 23 November
Frost-free days258 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 8a

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 Memphis?

The last frost in Memphis usually comes around 10 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 17 February, while corn waits until 17 March. The first autumn frost follows around 23 November, about 258 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha15 January – 15 August24 February – 24 September17 March – 24 September
Ageratumfrom 5 January—from 23 March
Arugula——sow 17 February – 19 October
Basil28 February – 21 September7 April – 29 October28 April – 29 October
Beet——sow 17 February – 24 September
Bell Pepper6 February – 4 June7 April – 3 August28 April – 3 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 24 December—from 17 March
Bok Choy20 January – 2 October24 February – 6 November17 March – 6 November
Borage——sow 17 March – 29 September
Broad bean——sow 17 February – 15 August
Broccoli——sow 17 February – 8 August
Brussels Sprouts13 December – 6 July27 January – 20 August17 February – 20 August
Busy Lizziefrom 23 December—from 17 March
Cabbage——sow 17 February – 16 July
Calendula——sow from 17 February
Carrot——sow 17 February – 31 August
Cauliflower16 December – 8 August27 January – 19 September17 February – 19 September
Celeriac9 December – 5 June24 February – 21 August17 March – 21 August
Celery9 December – 15 June24 February – 31 August17 March – 31 August
Celosiafrom 26 Januaryfrom 12 Marchfrom 2 April
Chamomile——sow 17 February – 19 September
Chayote28 November – 29 May24 February – 25 August17 March – 25 August
Chickpea——sow 17 February – 5 August
Chicory2 January – 30 August—17 February – 24 September
Chili Pepper6 February – 11 July7 April – 9 September28 April – 9 September
China asterfrom 14 Februaryfrom 7 Aprilfrom 28 April
Chives——sow 17 February – 10 September
Cilantro——sow 17 February – 20 September
Corn——sow 17 March – 5 August
Corn poppy——sow from 17 February
Cosmosfrom 26 Januaryfrom 12 Marchfrom 2 April
Cucumber10 March – 11 August7 April – 8 September28 April – 8 September
Daikon——sow 17 February – 17 September
Delphiniumfrom 29 November—from 17 February
Dill——sow 17 February – 30 September
Edging lobeliafrom 23 December—from 17 March
Eggplant6 February – 4 June7 April – 3 August28 April – 3 August
Florence fennel10 January – 15 August24 February – 29 September17 March – 29 September
Foxglovefrom 11 November—from 17 February
Garden sorrel——sow 17 February – 18 September
Green Beans——sow 2 April – 13 August
Hollyhock——sow from 17 February
Hyssop——sow 17 February – 11 August
Kale——sow 17 February – 12 September
Kiwano29 January – 18 August2 March – 19 September23 March – 19 September
Kohlrabi——sow 17 February – 22 September
Leek18 November – 27 May27 January – 5 August17 February – 5 August
Lemon balm——sow 17 February – 14 September
Lettuce——sow 17 February – 27 September
Lisianthusfrom 1 Novemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Lovage——sow from 17 February
Luffa24 February – 12 June7 April – 24 July28 April – 24 July
Marigoldfrom 13 Januaryfrom 24 Februaryfrom 17 March
Marjoram6 February – 30 August—28 April – 29 October
Melon10 March – 29 July7 April – 26 August28 April – 26 August
Microgreens——sow 2 April – 9 November
Moringa19 February – 4 September15 April – 29 October6 May – 29 October
Moss rosefrom 30 December—from 17 March
Mustard greens——sow 17 February – 9 October
Napa cabbage22 January – 9 September24 February – 12 October17 March – 12 October
Nasturtiumfrom 17 Januaryfrom 24 Februaryfrom 17 March
Okra24 February – 23 August7 April – 4 October28 April – 4 October
Oregano28 November – 20 August27 January – 19 October17 February – 19 October
Pansyfrom 2 Decemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Parsley——sow 17 February – 8 September
Parsnip——sow 17 February – 28 July
Peanut1 March – 19 July7 April – 25 August28 April – 25 August
Peas——sow 17 February – 10 September
Petuniafrom 3 Februaryfrom 7 Aprilfrom 28 April
Physalis16 January – 16 July2 March – 30 August23 March – 30 August
Pumpkin24 February – 17 June7 April – 29 July28 April – 29 July
Purple coneflowerfrom 26 November—from 17 February
Radish——sow 17 February – 24 October
Sage9 December – 16 August27 January – 4 October17 February – 4 October
Scarlet sagefrom 9 January—from 23 March
Snapdragonfrom 23 Novemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Soybean——sow 28 April – 4 September
Spinach——sow 17 February – 29 September
Stevia12 January – 7 July2 March – 25 August23 March – 25 August
Stock——sow from 17 February
Sunflower——sow from 2 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 17 February
Sweet Corn2 February – 30 August24 February – 21 September17 March – 21 September
Sweet peafrom 16 Decemberfrom 27 Januaryfrom 17 February
Sweet William——sow from 17 February
Swiss Chard——sow 17 February – 24 September
Thyme——sow 17 February – 5 August
Tomato9 January – 12 June2 March – 3 August23 March – 3 August
Turnip——sow 17 February – 26 September
Watercress——sow 17 February – 7 October
Watermelon10 March – 17 July7 April – 14 August28 April – 14 August
Zinniafrom 11 Marchfrom 15 Aprilfrom 6 May
Zucchini17 March – 16 August7 April – 6 September28 April – 6 September

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.

What planting zone is Memphis?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Memphis (ZIP 38103) in zone 8a. Zone 8a stands for an average coldest night of 10 to 15 °F (-12.2 to -9.4 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 8a or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Memphis: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Memphis

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 32 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 13 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C6 February32 days earlier
15 °C23 March13 days later
18 °C28 April49 days later

Frost dates near Memphis

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Jackson (24 February) and latest in Nashville (24 March).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Little Rock209 km3 March20 November
Nashville316 km24 March14 November
Jackson317 km24 February28 November
Huntsville322 km20 March14 November
Birmingham (United States)349 km10 March26 November

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Memphis

Within 15 km of Memphis OpenStreetMap lists 1 garden centre and 4 markets (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest market to the city centre is Roxie's Grocery, 1 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Memphis

Frosts in Memphis usually come from about 23 November to about 10 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 Memphis by month

Average weather in Memphis over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (21.9–32.6 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June (30.9 °C), July (32.6 °C) and August (31.3 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 1.3 °C. About 1411 mm of rain falls in a year, on 128 days; February is the wettest month (159 mm) and September the driest (77 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January101.312410
February13.53.715911
March18.28.115813
April21.911.614911
May26.71711613
June30.921.210311
July32.623.610413
August31.322.510111
September29.419.8778
October23.813.9897
November16.77.4959
December12.5413611

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 24 October
Crocusby 24 October
Daffodilby 24 October
Garlic24 October – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 24 October
Helleboreby 24 October
Hyacinthby 24 October
Lilyby 24 October
Ornamental onionby 24 October
Peonyby 24 October
Saffronby 24 October
Snowdropby 24 October
Tulipby 24 October
Wild garlicby 24 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).