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Nashville, Tennessee · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Nashville

This month's sowing list for Nashville, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

12 vegetables to sow or plant now

5 of them are at their best time to start. The last frost is usually around April 6, and frost is unlikely after about April 22.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, bok choy, arugula, cilantro, lettuce and spinach.

Sow or plant in Nashville in October

Start seeds indoors

Nothing this month.

Direct sow

  • Arugula
  • Bok choy
  • Cilantro
  • Radish
  • Dill
  • Lettuce
  • Spinach
  • Turnip

Transplant

  • Garlic
  • Chives
  • Kale
  • Parsley

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: arugula, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, radish, spinach and turnip.

Ready to pick in October

  • Arugula
  • Basil
  • Beets
  • Bell pepper
  • Bok choy
  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Bush beans
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Celeriac
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Cucumber
  • Dill
  • Hot pepper
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Parsley
  • Pole beans
  • Radish
  • Runner beans
  • Rutabaga
  • Scallions
  • Strawberry
  • Sweet corn
  • Swiss chard
  • Tomato
  • Turnip
  • Winter squash
  • Zucchini

Coming up in November

Nothing new starts in November. This month's list carries on.

When to plant the favourites in Nashville

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: March to June.

Transplant: May to August.

Best time to start: May to June.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 15 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: March to April.

Best time to start: March.

Pick: June to July.

First pick about 10 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: September to December.

Best time to start: September to December.

Pick: April to July.

First pick about 26 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Direct sow: February to April and September to October.

Best time to start: February to April and September.

Pick: April to June and October to January.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: February to April and August to September.

Best time to start: February to April and August to September.

Pick: May to July and October to January.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: May to August.

Best time to start: May to August.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Start seeds indoors: December to March.

Transplant: February to April.

Best time to start: February to April.

Pick: June to August.

First pick about 20 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: February to May.

Best time to start: February to April.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 14 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: April to July.

Direct sow: May to July.

Transplant: May to July.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: July to October.

First pick about 12 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: April to August.

Direct sow: May to August.

Transplant: May to August.

Best time to start: May to July.

Pick: June to October.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Nashville

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
BasilTSSSSabout 6 weeks
BeetsSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Bell pepperTTPPPPabout 15 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BroccoliTPPPTPabout 13 weeks
Brussels sproutsTTPabout 17 weeks
Bush beansSSSSabout 7 weeks
CabbageTPPPTPabout 14 weeks
CantaloupeTSSSabout 9 weeks
CarrotSSSSSabout 9 weeks
CauliflowerTPabout 15 weeks
CeleriacTTTPPPPPabout 21 weeks
CeleryTTPPabout 21 weeks
ChivesPTTSSSPTTSabout 8 weeks
CilantroSSSSabout 6 weeks
CucumberTSSSSabout 6 weeks
DillSSSSSabout 6 weeks
EggplantTTPPPabout 17 weeks
Fava beansSSSabout 13 weeks
GarlicPPPPabout 26 weeks
Hot pepperTTPPPabout 17 weeks
KalePSSSPTSabout 7 weeks
LeekTTPPPabout 20 weeks
LettuceSSSSSabout 7 weeks
OkraSSSabout 6 weeks
OnionTTPPPabout 20 weeks
ParsleyPTTSSSTTSabout 8 weeks
ParsnipSSSabout 13 weeks
PeasSSSSabout 10 weeks
Pole beansSSSSabout 8 weeks
PotatoPPabout 10 weeks
RadishSSSSSSabout 3 weeks
Runner beansSabout 9 weeks
RutabagaSSSSabout 12 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
SpinachSSSSabout 7 weeks
StrawberryPPPPabout 14 weeks
Sweet cornTSSSSabout 8 weeks
Sweet potatoPPPabout 11 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
TomatoTTPPPPabout 15 weeks
TurnipSSSSSabout 7 weeks
WatermelonTSSSabout 9 weeks
Winter squashTSSSabout 12 weeks
ZucchiniTSSSSabout 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Choose a heat-tolerant variety of: Brussels sprouts, celeriac, fava beans, parsnip and rutabaga.

Nashville season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, bush beans, cantaloupe, celery, cilantro, cucumber, dill, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, parsnip, pole beans, potato, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celery, cilantro, dill, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, parsnip, peas, potato, radish, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Summer June to August

Time to start: beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, kale, parsley, parsnip, runner beans and rutabaga.

Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, celeriac, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, parsnip, pole beans, runner beans, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, cilantro, dill, garlic, lettuce, peas, radish, spinach and turnip.

Last chance for: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dill, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, Swiss chard and turnip.

Winter December to February

Time to start: arugula, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, celeriac, celery, chives, fava beans, kale, leek, lettuce, onion, parsley, peas, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard and turnip.

Last chance for: celery and garlic.

Frost in Nashville

Last frost, most years
around April 6
Frost is unlikely after
about April 22
First frost, most years
around October 31
Frost-free days in a year
about 208

The end of frost is not planting time. Tender plants also need warm nights, which usually come two to four weeks later, and a week or two of hardening off first, so go by the months for each vegetable above. A low corner where cold air settles runs later. Tomatoes, peppers, beans, zucchini, winter squash and basil are the ones to hold back or cover.

Questions about planting in Nashville

What can I plant now in Nashville?

In October, 12 vegetables can be sown or planted in Nashville, including arugula, bok choy, chives, cilantro, dill, garlic, kale and lettuce. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Nashville?

In Nashville, sow tomatoes indoors from March to June and transplant them from May to August. The best time to start is from May to June. Picking runs from July to October.

When should I plant potatoes in Nashville?

In Nashville, plant potatoes from March to April. The best time to start is in March. Picking runs from June to July.

When should I plant garlic in Nashville?

In Nashville, plant garlic from September to December. The best time to start is from September to December. Picking runs from April to July.

When is the last frost in Nashville?

In most years the last frost in Nashville comes around April 6. Frost is unlikely after about April 22, though tender vegetables go out later still, once nights are warm. The first frost of the cold season usually arrives around October 31.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Nashville?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), bok choy (about 4 weeks), arugula (about 5 weeks), scallions (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), cucumber (about 6 weeks) and Swiss chard (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

What to plant now in New York · What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Cleveland · What to plant now in Philadelphia · What to plant now in Washington DC · What to plant now in Minneapolis · What to plant now in Detroit · What to plant now in Charlotte · What to plant now in St. Louis · What to plant now in Kansas City · What to plant now in Salt Lake City · What to plant now in Sacramento · What to plant now in Atlanta · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Austin · What to plant now in Denver · What to plant now in Phoenix · What to plant now in Seattle · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Nashville. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).

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