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

Planting zone for 38545 — Bloomington Springs, TN

ZIP code 38545 (Bloomington Springs, Putnam County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is April 20 and the first fall frost October 22.

Where ZIP 38545 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 20
First frostOct 22
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 Bloomington Springs, 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 Bloomington Springs, TN

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 20median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 22median — 10% chance by Oct 8
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 8 and returns around October 30.

From the NOAA station Gainesboro, TN — 9 miles away, elevation 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 38545

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 23
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 9 – Mar 30
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 30 – Apr 13
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 27 – May 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 9 – Feb 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 4 – May 18
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 27 – May 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 27 – Sep 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 8 – Nov 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 20) and first fall frost (Oct 22) 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 38545 came on Feb 21 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 27).

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 Bloomington Springs, TN.

Soil in Bloomington Springs, TN

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 38545 is Hawthorne — gravelly silt loam, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureGravelly silt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH4.3strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hawthorne gravelly silt loam, 20 to 60 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 38545; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bloomington Springs, TN

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days48days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights104nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,247base 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
Precipitation59.9 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 24 °F 47°24° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 27 °F 53°27° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 41 °F 73°41° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 52 °F 81°52° MayJune: average high 87 °F, low 60 °F 87°60° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 65 °F 90°65° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 63 °F 90°63° AugSeptember: average high 84 °F, low 56 °F 84°56° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 43 °F 74°43° OctNovember: average high 61 °F, low 33 °F 61°33° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 27 °F 51°27° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.03 in precipitation 5.0 JanFebruary: 5.14 in precipitation 5.1 FebMarch: 5.40 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 5.06 in precipitation 5.1 AprMay: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 MayJune: 5.80 in precipitation 5.8 JunJuly: 6.00 in precipitation 6.0 JulAugust: 4.55 in precipitation 4.5 AugSeptember: 4.58 in precipitation 4.6 SepOctober: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 OctNovember: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 NovDecember: 5.69 in precipitation 5.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Gainesboro, TN (9 mi away); precipitation: Cookeville 5.4 Wnw, TN (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

385647b
Granville, TN · 6 mi
385017a
Cookeville, TN · 7 mi
385627a
Gainesboro, TN · 8 mi
385487b
Buffalo Valley, TN · 8 mi
385447b
Baxter, TN · 8 mi
385527b
Chestnut Mound, TN · 9 mi
385037a
Cookeville, TN · 10 mi
385027a
Cookeville, TN · 10 mi

Tennessee planting zones →

Questions about 38545

What planting zone is ZIP code 38545?

ZIP code 38545 (Bloomington Springs, 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 Bloomington Springs, TN?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 38545 is April 20; after May 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gainesboro station.

When is the first frost in Bloomington Springs, TN?

The median first fall frost near 38545 is October 22, giving a median frost-free growing season of 183 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 38545?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 23 – Mar 9 and set transplants outside around Apr 27 – May 11, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 38545 get?

About 59.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cookeville 5.4 Wnw station).

How hot do summers get in Bloomington Springs, TN?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 48 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 38545 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hawthorne at the center of ZIP 38545: gravelly silt loam, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 4.3 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Bloomington Springs, TN in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 38545 came on Feb 21 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 27), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Bloomington Springs, TN?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 38545 is 14 h 38 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 38545 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 38545 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 7b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.