Orlando, FL Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Orlando, Florida.
Gardening in Orlando
Orlando's gardening scene exists in two worlds: the tourist economy that covers the city in manicured commercial landscapes, and the residential neighborhoods where people actually grow food. Behind the theme park curtain, Orlando's subtropical climate supports year-round food production that would make northern gardeners weep with envy.
Central Florida's climate is a gardener's paradox — mild enough for year-round growing but humid enough to promote every disease known to horticulture. Summer's daily thunderstorms provide free irrigation but also create perfect conditions for fungal problems. The 303-day growing season means you can always be planting something, but knowing what to plant when is the skill that separates Orlando gardeners from Orlando tourists trying to garden.
The magic here isn't in the theme parks — it's in a January tomato harvest while the rest of the country eats grocery store disappointment. Orlando's diverse community brings Vietnamese, Puerto Rican, Haitian, and Indian gardening traditions to backyard plots across the city. UCF's research gardens and Orange County Extension have turned Florida gardening science into practical advice that works in real Orlando soil.
What This Means for Orlando Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Orlando 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 Orlando 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 Orlando
With 303 frost-free days, Orlando 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 Orlando.
More About Zone 9B
Orlando 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 Orlando 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 Orlando (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.