Key West, FL Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Key West, Florida.
Gardening in Key West
The southernmost city in the continental US is closer to Havana than Miami. Gardening here is truly tropical — no frost, ever, and year-round growing is the norm.
Zone 10b with 364 frost-free days. Tropical maritime climate means year-round growing. Salt spray, limited fresh water, and thin coral-rock soil are the challenges. Tropical fruit trees thrive.
Key West's food heritage is conch — both the cuisine and the culture. Backyard gardens grow mangoes, papayas, Key limes, and tropical herbs in conditions that mainland gardeners can only imagine.
What This Means for Key West Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Key West is around January 1, and the average first fall frost arrives around December 31. That gives you approximately 364 frost-free days to work with.
Key West's growing season is essentially year-round. Frost is a rare event, not a seasonal boundary. Traditional cool-season crops grow through your mild winter, while tropical and subtropical plants thrive permanently outdoors. Your challenge isn't length of season — it's managing summer heat and humidity. Plant warm-season vegetables from September through February and shift to heat-tolerant crops for the summer months.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Key West area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Key West
With 364 frost-free days, Key West can grow nearly anything — including tropical and subtropical plants that most of the country can only dream about. Your prime vegetable season runs from fall through spring; summer is for heat-lovers like okra, sweet potatoes, and peppers. Recommended starting points: cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, okra, sweet potatoes, basil, collard greens, tomatillos, and lemongrass.
See the full Florida planting guide for all 40 plants: Florida Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Key West.
More About Zone 10B
Key West is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10B, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between 35°F to 40°F. View the full Zone 10B planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Florida: Florida Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Florida
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Key West area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Key West (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
You can plant cool-season crops (lettuce, kale, broccoli) from December 31 through January 1 — your cool season is your primary vegetable season. Warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers go out in early spring. Tropical plants grow year-round. Enter your zip code for exact dates for every plant.