Planting Guides
When to Plant Tomatoes in Nashville: Complete Guide + Best Varieties for Zone 7a
Nashville, Tennessee
USDA Zone 7a
Last Frost: Apr 10
Last updated: October 30, 2025
Learn when to plant tomatoes in Nashville with specific dates for Zone 7a. Compare 6 varieties & discover which tomatoes grow best in Tennessee's climate.
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Quick Answer
Start tomato seeds indoors March 12 in Nashville. Transplant outdoors April 16 after last frost for optimal Zone 7a success.
TL;DR
Nashville tomato planting: Start seeds indoors March 12, transplant outdoors April 16 after final frost. Zone 7a's 203-day growing season supports all varieties from ultra-early 'Solanum lycopersicum 'Stupice'' to late-season 'Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine''. Key dates: indoor seeding March 12, hardening off April 9-15, safe transplant April 16-23.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I start tomato seeds indoors in Nashville?
Start tomato seeds indoors on March 12 for Nashville's Zone 7a climate. This gives you 8 weeks of indoor growing time before transplanting after the last frost date of April 9. Early varieties like Solanum lycopersicum 'Stupice' can be started as late as March 26, while long-season varieties like Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' need the full 8-week head start to reach maturity before Nashville's first fall frost.
What's the latest I can plant tomatoes in Nashville and still get a harvest?
You can successfully plant tomatoes in Nashville through May 15 and still get a good harvest. Nashville's first frost doesn't typically occur until October 29, giving you 167 growing days even with late planting. However, heat-sensitive varieties like Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' may struggle with fruit set during July and August if planted after May 1. Stick with heat-tolerant varieties like Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherokee Purple' or Solanum lycopersicum 'Early Girl' for late plantings.
Which tomato varieties handle Nashville's humid summers best?
Solanum lycopersicum 'Early Girl' and Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherokee Purple' show the best adaptation to Nashville's humid climate. Early Girl carries genetic resistance to common fungal diseases, while Cherokee Purple originated in Tennessee and has natural tolerance to our humidity. {Solanum lycopersicum 'Sungold'} also performs well due to its vigorous growth and disease resistance package. Avoid varieties without disease resistance in Nashville's humid conditions.
How do I protect tomatoes from late spring frosts in Nashville?
Nashville can experience surprise frosts as late as April 25, even after the average last frost date of April 9. Protection methods: Use row covers, old sheets, or Wall-o-Water protectors when temperatures threaten to drop below 40°F. Keep backup seedlings ready for replanting. Solanum lycopersicum 'Stupice' and Solanum lycopersicum 'Early Girl' recover best from light frost damage, while heirlooms like Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' rarely survive temperatures below 35°F.
Should I grow tomatoes in containers or in the ground in Nashville?
Ground planting in raised beds works best in Nashville if you amend the clay soil properly. Build beds 8-12 inches high and add 4 inches of compost annually to improve drainage. Container growing is better for areas with persistent drainage problems or if you want to move plants during severe weather. Use containers at least 20 gallons for indeterminate varieties like Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherokee Purple'. Nashville's long growing season allows both methods to succeed with proper care.
When do tomatoes typically ripen in Nashville gardens?
First harvest dates for Nashville Zone 7a gardens: Solanum lycopersicum 'Stupice' by June 15, Solanum lycopersicum 'Early Girl' by June 20, Solanum lycopersicum 'Sungold' by June 25. Mid and late-season varieties like Solanum lycopersicum 'Cherokee Purple' and Solanum lycopersicum 'San Marzano' typically begin ripening in mid-July. Solanum lycopersicum 'Brandywine' may not produce ripe fruit until early August. Continuous harvest continues until first frost around October 29.
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Marcus Washington
Marcus manages the grounds at a historic property in Memphis and runs a side business doing residential garden design. He grew up helping his grandfather maintain a large vegetable garden in the Mississippi Delta and carried that knowledge into formal training—he has a degree in landscape technology. Memphis sits in a sweet spot for growing: long warm seasons, decent rainfall, and mild enough winters that many marginally hardy plants survive. Marcus writes about Southern gardening traditions, ornamental garden design, and dealing with the humidity and heavy rainfall that define the Mid-South climate.
