Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 37694 — Watauga, TN

ZIP code 37694 (Watauga, Carter County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 19 and the first fall frost October 24.

Where ZIP 37694 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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 19

First frostOct 24

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 Watauga, 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 Watauga, 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 — 2 miles away, 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 37694

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 37694 came on Mar 1 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Mar 1).

average
Mar 12026
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.

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 Watauga, TN.

Soil in Watauga, TN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 37694 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, 35 to 50 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 37694; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Watauga, 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 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

Precipitation48 inper year, rain and melted snow

Snowfall6 inper year; 6 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

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

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 7b.

376997b

Piney Flats, TN · 3 mi

376017b

Johnson City, TN · 4 mi

376447b

Elizabethton, TN · 4 mi

376867b

Piney Flats, TN · 6 mi

376827b

Milligan College, TN · 6 mi

376187b

Bluff City, TN · 7 mi

376847b

Mountain Home, TN · 7 mi

376057b

Johnson City, TN · 8 mi

Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about 37694

What planting zone is ZIP code 37694?

ZIP code 37694 (Watauga, 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 Watauga, TN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 37694 is April 19; after May 7 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elizabethton station.

When is the first frost in Watauga, TN?

The median first fall frost near 37694 is October 24, giving a median frost-free growing season of 187 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 37694?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 22 – Mar 8 and set transplants outside around Apr 26 – May 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 37694 get?

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

How hot do summers get in Watauga, TN?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 18 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 37694 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Montevallo at the center of ZIP 37694: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Watauga, TN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 37694 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 Watauga, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 37694 is 14 h 39 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 37694 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 37694 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.