🌱 GrowGuide Almanac
HomeTennessee › Cleveland

Cleveland, TN Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 7b · ZIP 37311 · elevation 257′ · NOAA & USDA data

Cleveland is in USDA hardiness zone 7b (winters can dip to 5 to 10°F), with a growing season of about 206 days between the average last spring frost (April 6) and first fall frost (October 30). The warmest month is July (avg high 89°F); the coldest is January (avg low 29.4°F). It averages 57.6″ of precipitation a year and 1.1″ of snow, mostly mid-winter. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
7b
min temp 5 to 10°F
Last spring frost
April 6
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
October 30
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
206 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
July
avg high 89°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Cleveland

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Cleveland Fltr Plt, TN (10.8 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 50 29.4 39.7 5.2 0.2
February 54.6 32.6 43.6 4.9 0.6
March 62.7 38.8 50.8 5.6 0
April 72.4 46.7 59.5 5 0
May 79.5 55.6 67.5 4.6 0
June 86.1 64 75.1 4.9 0
July 89 67.8 78.4 5.1 0
August 88.4 66.8 77.6 3.8 0
September 83 60.1 71.6 4.7 0
October 73 47.6 60.3 3.5 0
November 61.3 36.7 49 4.9 0
December 52.6 32.2 42.4 5.5 0.3

What to plant when in Cleveland

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: February 23 · Transplant out: April 13
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: February 9 · Transplant out: April 20
CucumberswarmDirect sow: April 13
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: April 13
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: April 13
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: April 13
BasilwarmTransplant out: April 13
PeascoolSow (spring): March 2 · Sow (fall): September 4
SpinachcoolSow (spring): February 23 · Sow (fall): September 4
LettucecoolSow (spring): March 9 · Sow (fall): September 4
KalecoolTransplant (spring): March 16 · Sow (fall): August 21
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): March 23
CarrotscoolSow (spring): March 16 · Sow (fall): August 21
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): March 9
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: March 23
RadishescoolSow (spring): March 9 · Sow (fall): September 18

Dates are computed from Cleveland's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

Want the exact dates for your yard? →
Look up your precise ZIP-code frost dates and a full 26-crop planting calendar on our free interactive tool.
Open the frost & planting tool

🌾 Get a frost reminder

One email in early spring and early fall with the dates for your area. No spam.

Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in Tennessee

Chattanooga, TNKnoxville, TNMurfreesboro, TNSmyrna, TNBrentwood, TNFranklin, TNHendersonville, TNNashville, TN

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Cleveland Fltr Plt, TN, 10.8 mi (confidence: medium). Monthly weather normals: Cleveland Fltr Plt, TN, 10.8 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.