Month-by-month guidance for gardeners in Hawkins County and East Tennessee — when to start seeds, transplant, harvest, and put up the harvest. Based on UT Extension data for our area.
Best varieties sell out in January — place seed orders now. Amend beds with compost so it breaks down over winter. Rest. The land is resting too.
Order bareroot fruit crops now. Prune dormant fruit trees. Good time to gather transplant supplies and sanitize seed trays.
Allow 8 weeks for cole crop transplants. Peppers need 10–12 weeks. Dormant prune fruit trees before bud break. Prepare soil if ground allows.
Cool-season crops tolerate light frost. Keep row cover handy — late freezes through early April are common in Hawkins County.
Frost still possible through May 3. Harden off transplants for 7–10 days before setting out. Plant potatoes mid-April in Hawkins County tradition.
Last frost date ~May 3. Wait until soil reaches 60°F at 4” depth before setting out warm-season crops. Sweet potato slips go out after May 15.
Pull spring crops as they bolt. Succession plant beans every 10 days for continuous harvest through August. Mulch heavily as heat arrives.
Peak heat. Water deeply and less often. Mulch 3–4 inches to retain moisture. Start fall brassica transplants now — they need 8 weeks before going out.
Busiest canning month in East Tennessee. Fall garden must go in by mid-August to mature before frost. Transplant fall brassicas out now.
Harvest winter squash before first frost. Cure sweet potatoes at 85°F for 10 days before storage. First frost arrives ~Oct 6.
First frost ~Oct 6 — bring in tender crops before any forecast below 35°F. Garlic planted now harvests next July. Stack firewood under cover.
Frost improves kale and collard flavor — sweetens the leaves. Keep harvesting until a hard freeze. Amend beds with compost now for spring.
Looking for variety recommendations, what grows well here, and Appalachian planting signs?
Hawkins County Growing Guide →Dates based on the UT Extension 2024 Home Fruit and Vegetable Calendar (Bristol, TN station — the closest UT Extension reference point to Hawkins County). Frost dates reflect a 10% probability threshold. Your specific hollow, ridge, or valley may vary by 1–2 weeks. For location-specific guidance, contact the Hawkins County UT Extension office at 3815 Highway 66-S, Rogersville.
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