Lake City, FL Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Lake City, Florida.
Gardening in Lake City
North-central Florida's crossroads city sits where I-10 meets I-75. The surrounding Suwannee River country has deep agricultural roots.
Zone 9a with 283 frost-free days. North Florida's transition climate supports both Southern and subtropical crops. Sandy soil over limestone karst.
Columbia County's agricultural heritage and the surrounding springs country create a natural food-growing environment.
What This Means for Lake City Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Lake City is around February 18, and the average first fall frost arrives around November 28. That gives you approximately 283 frost-free days to work with.
283 days is a long, productive season that supports two full rounds of warm-season crops plus continuous cool-season production through your mild winter. Most frost-sensitive crops can be transplanted by February 18, giving them months to produce before fall. Your winter garden is the real advantage — growing fresh vegetables in December and January while northern gardeners browse seed catalogs.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Lake City 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 Lake City
With 283 frost-free days, Lake City 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 Lake City.
More About Zone 9A
Lake City is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9A, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between 20°F to 25°F. View the full Zone 9A 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 Lake City 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 Lake City (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 November 28 through February 18 — 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.