Melbourne, FL Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Melbourne, Florida.
Gardening in Melbourne
The Space Coast's residential community has subtropical conditions that support year-round food production in the Indian River Lagoon corridor.
Zone 9b with 303 frost-free days. Atlantic maritime influence moderates temperatures. Sandy soil needs constant amendment. The Indian River corridor's citrus heritage extends to backyard trees.
Kennedy Space Center sends rockets into space; Melbourne gardeners bring food out of the sandy soil. The Space Coast food garden culture is quieter but equally determined.
What This Means for Melbourne Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Melbourne is around February 5, and the average first fall frost arrives around December 5. That gives you approximately 303 frost-free days to work with.
303 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 5, 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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne
With 303 frost-free days, Melbourne 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 Melbourne.
More About Zone 9B
Melbourne is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9B, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between 25°F to 30°F. View the full Zone 9B 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 Melbourne 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 Melbourne (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 5 through February 5 — 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.