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

Planting zone for Pigeon Forge, TN

Pigeon Forge, TN is in USDA zone 7b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost October 25.

Pigeon Forge 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 17
First frostOct 25
Growing season189 days

7b 2 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 Pigeon Forge, TN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 25median — 10% chance by Oct 12
Growing season189 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 2 and returns around November 4.

From the NOAA station Gatlinburg 2 Sw, TN, elevation 1,453 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 Pigeon Forge

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 1 – May 15
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
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 17) 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 37868 came on Feb 21 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25).

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 Pigeon Forge, TN.

Soil in Pigeon Forge, TN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 37868 is Whitesburg — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classprime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Whitesburg silt loam, occasionally flooded.

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 37868; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pigeon Forge, TN

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low27 °Faverage low, January
Hot days53days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights86nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,551base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 35 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 43 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation48.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall4 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 27 °F 49°27° JanFebruary: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 36 °F 63°36° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 45 °F 72°45° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 63 °F 87°63° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 67 °F 90°67° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 66 °F 89°66° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 60 °F 84°60° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 30 °F 52°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.41 in precipitation, 1.5 in snowfall 4.4❄2 JanFebruary: 4.26 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 4.3❄1 FebMarch: 4.69 in precipitation, 0.9 in snowfall 4.7❄1 MarApril: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 AprMay: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 MayJune: 4.26 in precipitation 4.3 JunJuly: 4.65 in precipitation 4.7 JulAugust: 3.40 in precipitation 3.4 AugSeptember: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 SepOctober: 2.90 in precipitation 2.9 OctNovember: 3.56 in precipitation 3.6 NovDecember: 4.90 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 4.9 Dec

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

ZIP codes in Pigeon Forge

378637b
5 to 10 °F
378687b
5 to 10 °F

Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about Pigeon Forge

What planting zone is Pigeon Forge, TN?

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

When is the last frost in Pigeon Forge, TN?

The median last spring frost is April 17 and the median first fall frost is October 25 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gatlinburg 2 Sw station).

When can I plant a garden in Pigeon Forge, TN?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 6 – Mar 27; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 24, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Pigeon Forge, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 35 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Pigeon Forge, TN get?

About 48.8 inches of precipitation a year and 4 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).