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

Planting zone for 37602 — Johnson City, TN

ZIP code 37602 (Johnson City, Washington County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 21 and the first fall frost October 23.

Where ZIP 37602 is

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
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostApr 21
First frostOct 23
2012 zone7a

Was 7a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Johnson City, 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 Johnson City, TN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 23median — 10% chance by Oct 11
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 7 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Erwin 1 W, TN — 10 miles away, elevation 1,719 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 37602

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 24 – Apr 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 28 – May 12
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 5 – May 19
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 28 – Sep 11
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 9 – Nov 13
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 21) and first fall frost (Oct 23) 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 37602 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 37602 is Dewey — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH5.5moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Dewey-Collegedale complex, 6 to 15 percent slopes, severely eroded.

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 37602; 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 high85 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days18days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights98nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,607base 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

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 47 °F, low 25 °F 47°25° JanFebruary: average high 51 °F, low 27 °F 51°27° FebMarch: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° MayJune: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° JunJuly: average high 85 °F, low 62 °F 85°62° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 61 °F 85°61° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 55 °F 80°55° SepOctober: average high 70 °F, low 43 °F 70°43° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 33 °F 59°33° NovDecember: average high 50 °F, low 28 °F 50°28° 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: Erwin 1 W, TN (10 mi away); precipitation: Jonesborough 2.5 Ssw, TN (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

376597a
Jonesborough, TN · <1 mi
376907b
Telford, TN · 4 mi
376817b
Limestone, TN · 7 mi
376047b
Johnson City, TN · 7 mi
376057b
Johnson City, TN · 7 mi
376847b
Mountain Home, TN · 8 mi
376147b
Johnson City, TN · 8 mi
376157b
Johnson City, TN · 9 mi

All 6 ZIP codes in Johnson City → · Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about 37602

What planting zone is ZIP code 37602?

ZIP code 37602 (Johnson City, TN) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Johnson City, TN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 37602 is April 21; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Erwin 1 W station.

When is the first frost in Johnson City, TN?

The median first fall frost near 37602 is October 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 37602?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 24 – Mar 10 and set transplants outside around Apr 28 – May 12, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 37602 get?

About 47.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Jonesborough 2.5 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Johnson City, TN?

The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 37602 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Dewey at the center of ZIP 37602: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 5.5 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in Johnson City, TN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 37602 came on Mar 1 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Johnson City, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 37602 is 14 h 38 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 37602 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 37602 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.