Florida Planting Calendar

Frost dates, growing zones, and planting dates for Florida gardeners.

Zone 8a Zone 8b Zone 9a Zone 9b Zone 10a Zone 10b Zone 11a

The Short Answer

Florida spans USDA zones 8a through 11a, which means planting dates vary significantly across the state. North Florida has an average last frost around Feb 15 - Mar 10, while South Florida sees its last frost around Rare. Use our homepage tool with your zip code for dates specific to your exact location.

Florida Frost Dates by Region

Subtropical to tropical. Two main planting seasons — fall/winter and spring. Summer is too hot and wet for many crops. Year-round growing possible.

Region	Zones	Last Frost (Spring)	First Frost (Fall)
North Florida	8a, 8b, 9a	Feb 15 - Mar 10	Nov 15 - Dec 10
Central Florida	9a, 9b, 10a	Jan 15 - Feb 10	Dec 10 - Jan 5
South Florida	10a, 10b, 11a	Rare	Rare

Soil & Growing Conditions

Sandy soils throughout most of state. Low organic matter and nutrients. Heavy amendment essential. Alkaline coral rock soils in south.

What to Plant in Florida

Florida's near-tropical climate means your growing calendar is inverted — cool-season crops in winter, heat-tolerant crops in summer, and tropical plants year-round:

Tropical & Heat Lovers (Year-Round)

Okra Sweet Potatoes Eggplant Basil

Cool-Season Window (Oct–Mar)

Tomatoes Peppers Lettuce Broccoli Carrots Kale Peas Spinach Beans (Green/Snap)Cucumbers

Browse all 100 plants — or enter your zip code for personalized planting dates.

Neighboring States

Gardeners near state borders may find useful information in neighboring state guides:

Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming

Note: Frost dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normals and represent historical averages. Actual frost dates can vary significantly year to year. Zone data is from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

Last reviewed: March 29, 2026