Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Cookeville, TN

Cookeville, TN is in USDA zone 7a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 14 and the first fall frost October 25.

Cookeville on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostApr 14
First frostOct 25
Growing season195 days

7a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Cookeville, TN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season195 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 1 and returns around November 3.

From the NOAA station Cookeville, TN, elevation 1,089 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Cookeville

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 24
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 21 – May 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 21 – May 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 30 – Sep 13
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 11 – Nov 15
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 14) and first fall frost (Oct 25) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 38502 came on Feb 21 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 7a in Tennessee

560 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Tennessee, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 80

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °Farborvitae50 ft · blooms mid spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Shrubs 116

alderleaf buckthorn3 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAllegheny serviceberry35 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican hazelnut10 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 182

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican speedwell0.8 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 155

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FBailey's sedge2.1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −33 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbluejoint5 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Vines 14

American bittersweet15 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Cookeville, TN.

Soil in Cookeville, TN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 38502 is Bewleyville — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Bewleyville silt loam, 5 to 12 percent slopes, eroded.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 38502; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cookeville, TN

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days29days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights97nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,159base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation59.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 27 °F 47°27° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 29 °F 51°29° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 43 °F 70°43° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 53 °F 78°53° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 64 °F 87°64° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 57 °F 82°57° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 45 °F 72°45° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.23 in precipitation 5.2 JanFebruary: 5.59 in precipitation 5.6 FebMarch: 5.56 in precipitation 5.6 MarApril: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 AprMay: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 MayJune: 5.22 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 5.21 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 4.22 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 4.27 in precipitation 4.3 SepOctober: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 5.99 in precipitation 6.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cookeville, TN (4 mi away); precipitation: Cookeville 3.3 Ssw, TN (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Cookeville

385017a
0 to 5 °F
385027a
0 to 5 °F
385037a
0 to 5 °F
385067a
0 to 5 °F

Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about Cookeville

What planting zone is Cookeville, TN?

Cookeville, TN is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in Cookeville, TN?

The median last spring frost is April 14 and the median first fall frost is October 25 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cookeville station).

When can I plant a garden in Cookeville, TN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 3 – Mar 24; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 21, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Cookeville, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 37 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Cookeville, TN get?

About 59.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).