When Is the Last Frost in Florida?
The average last spring frost in Florida falls between January 17 and March 3 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of January 29. At the average date a later frost is still a coin flip, so tender plants wait for the safer 90% date.
| City | Last frost | 90% safe after | First frost | Growing season |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | Feb 1 | Mar 3 | Jan 5 | 330 days |
| Miami | Frost-free | Frost-free | Frost-free | 365 days |
| Tampafrost in <50% of winters | Jan 20 | Feb 10 | Jan 12 | 365 days |
| Orlando | Jan 25 | Feb 26 | Jan 10 | 355 days |
| St. Petersburgfrost in <50% of winters | Jan 17 | Feb 5 | Jan 15 | 365 days |
| Port St. Luciefrost in <50% of winters | Jan 23 | Feb 10 | Jan 18 | 365 days |
| Hialeah | Frost-free | Frost-free | Frost-free | 365 days |
| Cape Coralfrost in <50% of winters | Jan 16 | Feb 2 | Jan 13 | 365 days |
| Tallahassee | Mar 11 | Mar 30 | Nov 21 | 255 days |
| Fort Lauderdale | Frost-free | Frost-free | Frost-free | 365 days |
| Gainesville | Mar 3 | Mar 23 | Dec 2 | 277 days |
| Palm Bay | Jan 30 | Mar 1 | Jan 11 | 343 days |
| West Palm Beachfrost in <50% of winters | Jan 21 | Feb 12 | Jan 15 | 365 days |
| Lakeland | Jan 26 | Feb 21 | Jan 9 | 349 days |
| Clearwaterfrost in <50% of winters | Jan 17 | Feb 6 | Jan 14 | 365 days |
| Palm Coast | Jan 24 | Feb 18 | Jan 11 | 356 days |
| Boca Ratonfrost in <50% of winters | Jan 22 | Feb 7 | Jan 17 | 365 days |
| Deltona | Jan 26 | Feb 24 | Jan 12 | 359 days |
Last and first frost: 50% (median) dates of the last spring and first fall 32 °F night. 90% safe after: only a 10% chance of a later spring frost. First frost dates in January fall in the following winter. Each city uses the NOAA station nearest the ZIP code closest to its center.
Across all 139 Florida weather stations with frost records, median last frost dates run from January 15 at Sarasota Bradenton AP, FL to March 21 at Crestview Bob Sikes AP, FL. Elevation, valleys that collect cold air and distance from large water bodies explain most of the spread, so a garden a few miles from a listed city can differ by a week or more. The ZIP code lookup above uses the same NOAA data as the frost date calculator for every US ZIP code.
When Is the First Frost in Florida?
The average first fall frost in Florida arrives between November 28 and January 15 for most ZIP codes, with a median of January 8. Tomatoes, peppers, basil and squash are damaged at 32 °F, so harvest or cover them before then.
Fall frost can come early: Jacksonville has a 10% chance of frost before December 3, Tampa has a 10% chance of frost before December 23 and Orlando has a 10% chance of frost before December 18. Hardy crops such as kale, spinach and cabbage tolerate light frosts and keep producing after the first frost date.
When to Plant Tomatoes in Florida?
Transplant tomatoes in Florida 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Feb 8 – Feb 15 in Jacksonville, Jan 27 – Feb 3 in Tampa and Feb 1 – Feb 8 in Orlando. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
| City | Start seeds indoors | Transplant outdoors | Lowest-risk transplant |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | Feb 8 – Feb 15 | after Mar 3 |
| Miami | — | No frost date; plant by season | — |
| Tampa | Nov 25 – Dec 9 | Jan 27 – Feb 3 | after Feb 10 |
| Orlando | Nov 30 – Dec 14 | Feb 1 – Feb 8 | after Feb 26 |
| St. Petersburg | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | after Feb 5 |
| Port St. Lucie | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 30 – Feb 6 | after Feb 10 |
| Hialeah | — | No frost date; plant by season | — |
| Cape Coral | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | Jan 23 – Jan 30 | after Feb 2 |
| Tallahassee | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | Mar 18 – Mar 25 | after Mar 30 |
| Fort Lauderdale | — | No frost date; plant by season | — |
| Gainesville | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Mar 10 – Mar 17 | after Mar 23 |
| Palm Bay | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | after Mar 1 |
| West Palm Beach | Nov 26 – Dec 10 | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | after Feb 12 |
| Lakeland | Dec 1 – Dec 15 | Feb 2 – Feb 9 | after Feb 21 |
| Clearwater | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | after Feb 6 |
| Palm Coast | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | Jan 31 – Feb 7 | after Feb 18 |
| Boca Raton | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 29 – Feb 5 | after Feb 7 |
| Deltona | Dec 1 – Dec 15 | Feb 2 – Feb 9 | after Feb 24 |
Indoors: 6–8 weeks before the average last frost. Outdoors: 1–2 weeks after it. Lowest-risk: after the date with only a 10% chance of a later frost. Rules of thumb; check the 10-day forecast and wait for soil near 60 °F.
Tomatoes stall below about 50 °F at night and are killed by frost, so a week or two of waiting after the average date costs little. The tomato plant care guide covers light, watering and feeding once plants are in the ground. In frost-free or rare-frost areas such as Miami, Hialeah and Fort Lauderdale, summer heat limits tomatoes more than frost: flowers often drop without setting fruit when nights stay above about 75 °F, so gardeners there typically plant in late winter and again for a fall crop.
What Can You Plant in Jacksonville and When?
Jacksonville's average last frost of February 1 anchors its spring planting calendar: peas and spinach go in from December 21, broccoli and lettuce transplants from January 4, and tomatoes, peppers and squash after February 8.
| Crop | Start seeds indoors | Plant outdoors | Frost tolerance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Peas | — | Dec 21 – Jan 4direct sow, 4–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Spinach | — | Dec 21 – Jan 11direct sow, 3–6 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Radishes | — | Dec 28 – Jan 11direct sow, 3–5 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Onions (sets) | — | Jan 4 – Jan 18plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 4 – Jan 18plant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Broccoli & cabbage | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | Jan 4 – Jan 18transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Lettuce | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Jan 4 – Jan 18transplant, 2–4 weeks before last frost | hardy |
| Beets | — | Jan 4 – Jan 18direct sow, 2–4 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Carrots | — | Jan 11 – Jan 18direct sow, 2–3 weeks before last frost | half-hardy |
| Tomatoes | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | Feb 8 – Feb 15transplant, 1–2 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Basil | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | Feb 8 – Feb 22transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Peppers | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | Feb 15 – Feb 22transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Eggplant | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | Feb 15 – Feb 22transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Green beans | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Sweet corn | — | Feb 8 – Feb 22direct sow, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Cucumbers | Jan 4 – Jan 11 | Feb 8 – Feb 22transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Squash & zucchini | Jan 4 – Jan 11 | Feb 8 – Feb 22transplant, 1–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
| Watermelon | Jan 4 – Jan 11 | Feb 15 – Feb 22transplant, 2–3 weeks after last frost | tender |
Dates for Jacksonville (last frost Feb 1, NOAA station Jacksonville Nas, FL, 7 miles from ZIP 32203). General rules of thumb; wait for soil near 50 °F for most seeds and 60 °F for beans, corn and squash.
How Long Is the Growing Season in Florida?
The frost-free growing season in Florida lasts about 272 to 365 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 343 days. Among the listed cities, Tallahassee has the shortest season at 255 days and Boca Raton the longest at 365.
Season length decides which varieties ripen: compare it with the “days to maturity” on seed packets, counted from transplanting for tomatoes and peppers. NOAA stations in Florida range from 237 days at Crestview Bob Sikes AP, FL to 365 days at Belle Glade, FL. Planning beds before the season starts helps in short seasons — a plant spacing calculator for vegetable beds shows how many transplants fit.
What Hardiness Zones Are in Florida?
Florida spans USDA hardiness zones 8b to 11b, with zone 10a the most common. Zones describe winter cold and decide which perennials survive, while frost dates set when to plant annual vegetables and flowers.
The Florida planting zone map with the zone of each city shows how the zones are spread across the state and which plants are hardy in all of them.
Frequently Asked Questions
- When is the last frost in Florida?
- The average last spring frost in Florida falls between January 17 and March 3 for most ZIP codes, with a statewide median of January 29. Among major cities it ranges from January 16 in Cape Coral to March 11 in Tallahassee.
- When is the last frost in Jacksonville, Florida?
- Jacksonville's average last spring frost is February 1, and by March 3 the chance of a later frost drops to 10%. Its first fall frost averages January 5, giving a 330-day growing season (NOAA station Jacksonville Nas, FL).
- When should you plant tomatoes in Florida?
- Transplant tomatoes in Florida 1 to 2 weeks after the local average last frost, once nights stay above about 50 °F: Feb 8 – Feb 15 in Jacksonville, Jan 27 – Feb 3 in Tampa and Feb 1 – Feb 8 in Orlando. Start seeds indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last frost.
- When is the first frost in Florida?
- The average first fall frost in Florida arrives between November 28 and January 15 for most ZIP codes, with a median of January 8. Harvest tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers and basil before then or cover them on cold nights.
- How long is the growing season in Florida?
- The frost-free growing season in Florida lasts about 272 to 365 days for most ZIP codes, with a median of 343 days, from 255 days in Tallahassee to 365 days in Boca Raton.
Frost data: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals (32 °F freeze dates by probability). ZIP code and city locations and populations: U.S. Census Bureau Gazetteer files and Vintage 2024 population estimates. Planting windows are general rules of thumb. PlantoScan is not affiliated with or endorsed by these agencies.