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When to Plant Lavender in Humphreys County, TN

Humphreys County, Tennessee Zone 7b May

This month in Humphreys County, Tennessee

Each item below is timed to Humphreys County, Tennessee's frost dates and soil temperatures. Skip nothing, stress about nothing.

Avg. last frost April 5
Avg. first frost October 29
Soil temp (4") 62°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 13.9 hrs

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Lavender is a fragrant perennial herb with silvery foliage and purple flower spikes. It is prized for its essential oils, culinary uses, and ornamental beauty.

Humphreys County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 207 days.

At an elevation of 2,413 feet, Humphreys County receives approximately 49.1 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 92°F, providing good warmth for Lavender during the growing season.

Humphreys County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
207 days
Last Spring Frost April 5
207 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29
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Humphreys County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.8-6.5

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 4 🍅 Harvest: Jul 4 – Nov 14
Recommended (50%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 12 🍅 Harvest: Jul 12 – Nov 22
Safe Start (90%) ✗ May not fit
Transplant: Apr 25 🍅 Harvest: Jul 25 – Dec 5

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Humphreys County

How your county's soil matches Lavender's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.8–6.5) is more acidic than Lavender prefers (6.5–8.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

The silt loam soil in Humphreys County is excellent for Lavender — good drainage, moisture retention, and nutrient holding capacity.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is moderate (2.6%). Annual compost additions will help Lavender.

How to Plant Lavender

0.5"
Planting Depth
8"
Between Plants
12"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
0.3″/week
Rainfall provides
1.0″/week
Watering frequency Natural rainfall sufficient
Season total 0 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Lavender

Lavender needs approximately 0.3 inches of water per week (1.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Lavender Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.9" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.5" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 5.2" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 1.3" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
May 1.3" 3.7" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jun 1.3" 3.9" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 1.3" 5.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 1.3" 4.4" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Sep 1.3" 3.8" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Oct 1.3" 3.1" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Nov 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Apr–Oct in Humphreys County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall — actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Lavender Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" — every day above 50°F deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Lavender needs ~2,755 GDD — county provides 3,933 GDD Excellent fit

Lavender Planting Timeline — Humphreys County, TN

Lavender Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 12 Apr 12 – Apr 26
Harvest July 12 Jul 12 – Nov 22

Plant 0.5" deep · 8" apart · Rows 12" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January
February
March
April Transplant Outdoors
May
June
July Harvest
August Harvest
September Harvest
October Harvest
November Harvest
December
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Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

0.3"/week · Natural rainfall sufficient

📅 Days to Maturity

90–200 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 6.5–8 · Your soil: too_acidic

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

207 days in Humphreys County

Growing Tips for Lavender in Humphreys County

Direct sow Lavender outdoors after April 05 in Humphreys County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 207.0-day growing season in Humphreys County is tight for Lavender (90.0-200.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant in well-drained, sandy soil. Avoid heavy mulching around the crown. Prune after flowering but do not cut into old wood. Lavender resents wet winter conditions.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Lavender in Humphreys County, TN?

Humphreys County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 5. Plan your Lavender planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Humphreys County, TN?

Humphreys County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 5 and first fall frost is October 29.

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Your Humphreys County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Humphreys County (Zone 7b). Planting dates, a month-by-month schedule, harvest log, seed inventory, and succession charts — all dialed in for your exact growing season.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Humphreys County, TN. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: May 2026.

Sources & credits

Every number on this page traces back to a primary horticulture or government data source. Click through to verify.