Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 37738 (Gatlinburg, 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, Mt Leconte, TN (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)132 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 37738, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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
61°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 56°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Asheville 13 S (54 mi).
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 37738 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 Jul 7 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | May 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 22 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 11 |
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) | Sep 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 15 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 4 | Sep 16 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 22 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 9 | Oct 10 |
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 37738
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 22) and first fall frost (Oct 1). 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 | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 13–27 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 13–27 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 1–22 (transplant) Apr 24–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 22 (transplant) Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 13–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 13–27 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 10–24 | May 8–29 (transplant) May 8–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 17–May 29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 12–Jul 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 24–May 1 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 24–May 1 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 24–May 1 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 24–May 1 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 10–24 | Jun 5–19 (transplant) Jun 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 29–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 10–24 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 8–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 13–27 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (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: Mt Leconte, TN (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00406328), elevation 6,493 ft, 2.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gatlinburg 2 SW, TN | 4 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 25 |
| Newfound Gap, TN | 5 mi | May 3 | Oct 15 |
| Cherokee, NC | 16 mi | Apr 17 | Oct 21 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 36 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 37738
When is the last frost in 37738?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 37738 is May 22. For a more cautious planting date, use June 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 37738?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 15.
What hardiness zone is 37738?
ZIP 37738 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 37738 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
37863 Pigeon Forge 28719 Cherokee 37862 Sevierville 37876 Fairgarden 37722 Cosby 28785 Lake Junaluska 37865 Seymour 37886 Walland
Other ZIP codes in Sevier County
37764 37862 37863 37865 37876 All Sevier 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.