Blog

When to Plant Mulberries in Montgomery County, TN

Montgomery County, Tennessee Zone 7b April

This month in Montgomery County, Tennessee

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

Avg. last frost April 6
Avg. first frost October 29
Soil temp (4") 48°F
Watering Moderate
Pest pressure Moderate
Daylight 12.9 hrs
  1. Harden off and plant mulberries

    Plant tomatoes deep — bury the stem up to the first true leaves to grow extra roots. Everything else goes in at the same depth it grew in the tray.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

Mulberries are fast-growing, long-lived trees that produce abundant sweet-tart berries over an extended harvest period. The berries resemble elongated blackberries.

Montgomery County, Tennessee is in USDA Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and the first fall frost is October 29, giving you a growing season of approximately 206 days.

At an elevation of 3,886 feet, Montgomery County receives approximately 45.2 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly silt loam soil. Summer highs average 91°F, providing good warmth for Mulberries during the growing season.

Montgomery County, TN (Zone 7b) Long season
206 days
Last Spring Frost April 6
206 growing days
First Fall Frost October 29

Montgomery County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Silt Loam

Soil pH

5.5-6.6

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 20
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: Apr 27
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season
Transplant: May 11

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 Montgomery County

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

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.5–6.6) is within Mulberries's preferred range (5.5–7.0).

Soil Texture

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

Organic Matter

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

How to Plant Mulberries

120"
Between Plants
144"
Between Rows

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.9″/week
You supply
0.1″/week
Watering frequency Only during dry spells
Season total 144 gal / 100 sq ft

Monthly Watering Guide for Mulberries

Mulberries needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Mulberries Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 3.6" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Feb 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Mar 4.1" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Apr 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" 💧 Light watering
May 4.3" 3.1" 1.2" 💧 Light watering
Jun 4.3" 4.3" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 4.6" 0" ✅ Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 4.1" 0.2" 💧 Light watering
Sep 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" 💧 Light watering
Oct 4.3" 3.2" 1.1" 💧 Light watering
Nov 3.3" 0" ❄️ Dormant
Dec 3.8" 0" ❄️ Dormant

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

Mulberries 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.

Mulberries needs ~23,314 GDD — county provides 3,759 GDD May not mature

Mulberries Planting Timeline — Montgomery County, TN

Mulberries Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Transplant Outdoors April 27 Apr 27 – May 11

· 120" apart · Rows 144" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

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

Growing Conditions

☀️ Sun

Full Sun (6-8+ hours)

💧 Water

1"/week · Only during dry spells

📅 Days to Maturity

730–1825 days

🧪 Soil pH

Needs 5.5–7 · Your soil: ideal

🗺️ USDA Zone

Zone 7b

📆 Growing Season

206 days in Montgomery County

Growing Tips for Mulberries in Montgomery County

Direct sow Mulberries outdoors after April 06 in Montgomery County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Your 206.0-day growing season in Montgomery County is tight for Mulberries (730.0-1825.0 days to maturity). Start indoors and choose early-maturing varieties.

General growing tips

Plant away from driveways and patios as fallen berries stain. Minimal pruning is needed. Harvest by shaking branches over a tarp. Birds love mulberries so plant extra.

Companion Planting

Good Companions

Check more plant combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Mulberries in Montgomery County, TN?

Montgomery County is in Zone 7b with an average last frost of April 6. Plan your Mulberries planting based on this frost date — see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Montgomery County, TN?

Montgomery County, Tennessee is in USDA Hardiness Zone 7b. The average last spring frost is April 6 and first fall frost is October 29.

🌱

Your Montgomery County Garden Planner — Free

A 24-page printable planner built for Montgomery 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.

Instant PDF download. No spam, unsubscribe any time.

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

Sources & credits

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