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

Planting zone for Kingsport, TN

Kingsport, TN is in USDA zone 7b across its 6 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 9 and the first fall frost October 29.

Kingsport 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 9
First frostOct 29
Growing season203 days

7b 6 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Kingsport, 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 Kingsport, TN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 29median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season203 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 28 and returns around November 6.

From the NOAA station Kingsport, TN, elevation 1,283 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 Kingsport

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 3 – Sep 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 15 – Nov 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 9) and first fall frost (Oct 29) 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 37660 came on Mar 1 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 2).

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 Kingsport, TN.

Soil in Kingsport, TN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 37660 is Montevallo — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter69%high
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Montevallo channery silt loam, 50 to 80 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 37660; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Kingsport, TN

Summer high87 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights83nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,152base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 39 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 40 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation45 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall5 inper year; 4 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 27 °F 46°27° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 36 °F 60°36° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° AprMay: average high 78 °F, low 54 °F 78°54° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 62 °F 84°62° JunJuly: average high 87 °F, low 66 °F 87°66° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 65 °F 86°65° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 58 °F 81°58° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 36 °F 59°36° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 30 °F 50°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 3.88 in precipitation, 1.7 in snowfall 3.9❄2 JanFebruary: 4.05 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 4.0❄2 FebMarch: 4.14 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 4.1❄1 MarApril: 4.05 in precipitation 4.0 AprMay: 3.76 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 3.71 in precipitation 3.7 JunJuly: 5.05 in precipitation 5.0 JulAugust: 3.81 in precipitation 3.8 AugSeptember: 2.98 in precipitation 3.0 SepOctober: 2.43 in precipitation 2.4 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.2 NovDecember: 4.00 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.0❄1 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Kingsport

376607b
5 to 10 °F
376627b
5 to 10 °F
376637b
5 to 10 °F
376647b
5 to 10 °F
376657b
5 to 10 °F
376697b
5 to 10 °F

Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about Kingsport

What planting zone is Kingsport, TN?

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

When is the last frost in Kingsport, TN?

The median last spring frost is April 9 and the median first fall frost is October 29 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Kingsport station).

When can I plant a garden in Kingsport, TN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 26 – Mar 19; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 16, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Kingsport, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 39 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Kingsport, TN get?

About 45 inches of precipitation a year and 5 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).