Fall in zone 7bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 37701 (Alcoa, TN)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Knoxville Mcghee Tyson AP, TN (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)215 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 37701 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring early March to early April; fall late August to mid-September.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Transition zone. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about May 17 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 2: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Mar 14 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 17 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Oct 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 2 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 15 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 14 | Oct 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 1 | Nov 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 19 | Nov 13 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 37701
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 1) and first fall frost (Nov 2). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb 4–18 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 4–18 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 4–18 | Mar 11–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 4–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 4–18 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Mar 18–Apr 8 (transplant) Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 7–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 18–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 24–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 4–11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 4–11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 4–11 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 4–11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 4–11 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 15–29 (transplant) Apr 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 7–21 | Apr 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 18–Mar 4 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 18–Apr 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 21–Feb 4 | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Knoxville Mcghee Tyson AP, TN (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00013891), elevation 962 ft, 1.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Knoxville EXP STN, TN | 8 mi | Apr 11 | Oct 28 |
| Lenoir City, TN | 15 mi | Apr 5 | Nov 1 |
| Townsend 5S, TN | 18 mi | Apr 20 | Oct 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 19 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 37701
When is the last frost in 37701?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 37701 is April 1. For a more cautious planting date, use April 17, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 37701?
The average first fall freeze is November 2. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 21.
What hardiness zone is 37701?
ZIP 37701 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 37701 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
37777 Louisville 37804 Maryville 37853 Rockford 37737 Friendsville 37922 Knoxville 37919 Knoxville 37803 Maryville 37801 Maryville
Other ZIP codes in Blount County
37737 37777 37801 37803 37804 37853 37878 37882 37886 All Blount County frost dates · Tennessee frost dates
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.