Frost dates for 37699Piney Flats, TN
The average last spring frost in Piney Flats is April 19 and the average first fall frost is October 24, giving a typical growing season of about 187 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- Apr 19
- Average first fall frost
- Oct 24
- Growing season
- 187 days
Safer after May 7 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Oct 10 (1-in-10 risk)
Last frost typically in 167 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | Apr 15 · Apr 30 · May 17 | Oct 4 · Oct 16 · Oct 29 | 166 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Apr 2 · Apr 19 · May 7 | Oct 10 · Oct 24 · Nov 5 | 187 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Mar 20 · Apr 5 · Apr 23 | Oct 19 · Nov 1 · Nov 15 | 209 days | 100% |
Planting calendar for Piney Flats
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Mar 19 – May 25 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | May 5 – Jul 4 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Mar 19 – Apr 19 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | May 19 – Jun 19 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Apr 5 – May 4 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | May 19 – Jun 19 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | May 19 – Jul 14 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | May 5 – Jun 19 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | May 19 – Jun 19 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | May 5 – Aug 6 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | May 5 – Jul 4 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | May 19 – Jun 19 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | May 12 – Jun 4 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 19 – May 4 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Mar 19 – May 19 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 5 – Mar 4 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 5 – May 4 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Mar 1 – Apr 4 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Apr 5 – May 4 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 24 – Jul 4 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 24 – Aug 4 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Feb 19 – Mar 19 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Mar 19 – Apr 19 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jun 14 – Jul 14 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Jul 14 – Aug 14 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 19 – Jun 4 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 14 – Aug 30 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 12 – Apr 25 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 31 – Sep 4 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 19 – May 9 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 14 – Sep 14 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 5 – Apr 25 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 7 – Aug 14 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | Apr 19 – Jun 4 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jun 14 – Jul 30 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Oct 14 – Nov 14 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 37699 is matched to the NOAA station Elizabethton, TN, 8.8 km away, at 1,487 ft elevation (78 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elizabethton, TN (used) | 1,487 ft | Apr 19 | Oct 24 |
| Bristol Tri City Ap, TN | 1,500 ft | Apr 16 | Oct 24 |
| Kingsport, TN | 1,284 ft | Apr 9 | Oct 29 |
| Erwin 1 W, TN | 1,720 ft | Apr 21 | Oct 23 |
Frost dates near Piney Flats
- Piney Flats, TN 37686 · last Apr 16, first Oct 24
- Watauga, TN 37694 · last Apr 19, first Oct 24
- Bluff City, TN 37618 · last Apr 19, first Oct 24
- Bristol, TN 37621 · last Apr 16, first Oct 24
- Johnson City, TN 37601 · last Apr 19, first Oct 24
- Elizabethton, TN 37644 · last Apr 19, first Oct 24
- Mountain Home, TN 37684 · last Apr 21, first Oct 23
- Milligan College, TN 37682 · last Apr 19, first Oct 24
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Piney Flats, TN?
- For ZIP code 37699, the average last spring frost (32°F) is April 19, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Elizabethton, TN weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after May 7.
- When is the first frost in Piney Flats, TN?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is October 24. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by October 10, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 37699?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 187 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.