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

Planting zone for Cordova, TN

Cordova, TN is in USDA zone 8a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 29 and the first fall frost November 5.

Cordova on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostMar 29
First frostNov 5
Growing season223 days

8a 3 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 Cordova, TN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 5median — 10% chance by Oct 25
Growing season223 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 15 and returns around November 17.

From the NOAA station Memphis WFO, TN, elevation 312 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 Cordova

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 10 – Sep 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 22 – Nov 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 29) and first fall frost (Nov 5) 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 38088 came on Feb 17 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 19).

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 8a in Tennessee

575 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Tennessee, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 83

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 118

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 186

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 161

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 Cordova, TN.

Soil in Cordova, TN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 38088 is Grenada — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupC/Dslow when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Grenada silt loam, 2 to 5 percent slopes.

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 38088; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Cordova, TN

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, January
Hot days69days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights68nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,202base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation57.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall3 inper year; 2 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 49 °F, low 30 °F 49°30° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 33 °F 54°33° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 59 °F 81°59° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 68 °F 88°68° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 69 °F 91°69° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 50 °F 75°50° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 39 °F 62°39° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 33 °F 52°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.34 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 4.3❄1 JanFebruary: 4.77 in precipitation, 1.1 in snowfall 4.8❄1 FebMarch: 5.74 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 5.7❄1 MarApril: 5.85 in precipitation 5.8 AprMay: 5.48 in precipitation 5.5 MayJune: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JunJuly: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 JulAugust: 3.39 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 SepOctober: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 4.75 in precipitation 4.8 NovDecember: 5.68 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Memphis WFO, TN (2 mi away); precipitation: Memphis WFO, TN (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Cordova

380168a
10 to 15 °F
380188a
10 to 15 °F
380888a
10 to 15 °F

Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about Cordova

What planting zone is Cordova, TN?

Cordova, TN is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map (8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Cordova, TN?

The median last spring frost is March 29 and the median first fall frost is November 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Memphis WFO station).

When can I plant a garden in Cordova, TN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 15 – Mar 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Cordova, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Cordova, TN get?

About 57.2 inches of precipitation a year and 3 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).