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

Planting zone for Elizabethton, TN

Elizabethton, TN is in USDA zones 7a to 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 24.

Elizabethton on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zones7a–7b0 to 10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 19
First frostOct 24
Growing season187 days

7a 1 ZIP   7b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

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Loading the forecast for Elizabethton, TN…

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 Elizabethton, TN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 24median — 10% chance by Oct 10
Growing season187 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 5 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Elizabethton, TN, elevation 1,486 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 Elizabethton

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 8 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 26 – May 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 3 – May 17
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 29 – Sep 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 10 – Nov 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 19) and first fall frost (Oct 24) 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 37643 came on Mar 1 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 3).

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 Elizabethton, TN.

Soil in Elizabethton, TN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 37643 is Calvin — channery silt loam, well drained.

TextureChannery silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.8moderately 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: Calvin channery silt loam, 20 to 35 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 37643; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Elizabethton, TN

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low26 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights94nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,772base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 38 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 41 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall6 inper year; 6 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 46 °F, low 26 °F 46°26° JanFebruary: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 34 °F 59°34° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 42 °F 69°42° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 60 °F 83°60° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 44 °F 70°44° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 29 °F 50°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.78 in precipitation, 1.9 in snowfall 3.8❄2 JanFebruary: 3.76 in precipitation, 2.1 in snowfall 3.8❄2 FebMarch: 3.97 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 4.0 MarApril: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AprMay: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 JunJuly: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 JulAugust: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 AugSeptember: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 OctNovember: 3.36 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.4 NovDecember: 3.90 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 3.9❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elizabethton, TN (7 mi away); precipitation: Elizabethton, TN (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Elizabethton

376437a
0 to 5 °F
376447b
5 to 10 °F

Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about Elizabethton

What planting zone is Elizabethton, TN?

Elizabethton, TN is in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 7b on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F; 7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Elizabethton, TN?

The median last spring frost is April 19 and the median first fall frost is October 24 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elizabethton station).

When can I plant a garden in Elizabethton, TN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 8 – Mar 29; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 26, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Elizabethton, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 38 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Elizabethton, TN get?

About 48 inches of precipitation a year and 6 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).