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

Planting zone for Johnson City, TN

Johnson City, TN is in USDA zone 7b across its 6 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 24.

Johnson City on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes6
Last frostApr 19
First frostOct 24
Growing season187 days

7b 6 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 Johnson City, 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 Johnson City

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 37605 came on Mar 1 — about the same time as 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 7b in Tennessee

566 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Tennessee, and rated by the USDA to survive 5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 82

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 184

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 157

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 Johnson City, TN.

Soil in Johnson City, TN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 37605 is Dewey — 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: Dewey-Udorthents-Urban land complex, 5 to 20 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 37605; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Johnson City, 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
Precipitation47.5 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 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

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.68 in precipitation 3.7 JanFebruary: 3.78 in precipitation 3.8 FebMarch: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 4.09 in precipitation 4.1 AprMay: 4.53 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 4.52 in precipitation 4.5 JunJuly: 5.15 in precipitation 5.2 JulAugust: 4.41 in precipitation 4.4 AugSeptember: 3.36 in precipitation 3.4 SepOctober: 2.65 in precipitation 2.6 OctNovember: 3.16 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 3.89 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elizabethton, TN (8 mi away); precipitation: Jonesborough 2.5 Ssw, TN (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Johnson City

376017b
5 to 10 °F
376027b
5 to 10 °F
376047b
5 to 10 °F
376057b
5 to 10 °F
376147b
5 to 10 °F
376157b
5 to 10 °F

Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about Johnson City

What planting zone is Johnson City, TN?

Johnson City, TN is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map (7b: 5 to 10 °F).

When is the last frost in Johnson City, 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 Johnson City, 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 Johnson City, 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 Johnson City, TN get?

About 47.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).