Author: Jagdish Reddy | 10+ Years Sustainable Gardening Experience
Verification: Cross-referenced with USDA Climate Data & University Research
Status: Verified for current US regional growing conditions
Last Updated: April, 2026

Florida’s long growing season makes it possible to harvest vegetables, herbs, and flowers almost year-round, but the timing still depends heavily on your USDA zone. This Florida planting calendar brings together the key Florida planting dates for Zones 8a through 10a so gardeners can plan around frost, heat, and seasonal changes.

Because the state stretches from the cooler Panhandle to the tropical Keys, planting schedules vary by region. Northern counties follow a pattern similar to the Southeast, while Central and South Florida enjoy mild winters and extended warm seasons. Understanding your Florida gardening zones is the first step in knowing when to plant there, especially for temperature-sensitive crops like tomatoes, peppers, greens, and herbs.

This zone-based Florida planting schedule makes it easy to check the best months for planting cool-season and warm-season vegetables, flower varieties suited to heat and humidity, and the ideal windows for fall and winter gardening. Whether you garden in North Florida, around the Orlando–Tampa region, or near the Gulf Coast and Keys, the tables below outline the planting windows that match your climate.

Florida USDA Hardiness Zones

Florida’s planting zones stretch from the chillier inland spots up north all the way down to the steamy, tropical vibes near the Keys. Determining your specific zone is more than just gardening terminology; it provides information on when the last threat of frost disappears, when the soil becomes sufficiently warm for gardening, and which vegetables (or fruits!) will flourish in your area.

Region	USDA Zone
Northern Florida (Panhandle & inland north)	8a–8b
Central Florida (Orlando, Tampa, coastal mid-state)	9a–9b
Southern Florida / Gulf Coast / Keys	10a

Florida Frost Dates

Most of Florida gets off easy when it comes to frost—but don’t let that lull you into complacency if you’re up in the northern counties. Sudden cold snaps can still strike those areas, knocking tender seedlings sideways. That’s why paying attention to your local frost window matters: it’s your best clue for timing that first safe planting date without gambling your seedlings’ lives on an unexpected freeze.

Region	Last Spring Frost	First Fall Frost
Northern Florida	Feb–Mar	Nov–Dec
Central Florida	Late Jan–Feb	Dec–Jan
Southern Florida / Keys	Rare to none	Rare to none

Florida Vegetable Planting Calendar

Florida’s warm climate supports nearly year-round gardening, but each zone has its own timing. Cool-season crops thrive in winter and early spring, while warm-season vegetables take off as temperatures rise.

Cool-Season Vegetables

Common cool-season crops are grown across Florida; many others also apply.

Zone	Direct Sow	Start Indoors	Fall/Winter Planting
8a–8b	Jan–Feb	Dec	Nov–Dec
9a–9b	Dec–Jan	Nov	Oct–Nov
10a	Nov	Oct	Sept–Oct

Warm-Season Vegetables

Warm-season staples are widely grown in Florida’s long, hot summer.

Zone	Direct Sow / Transplant	Fall Planting
8a–8b	Feb–Mar	Sept
9a–9b	Jan–Feb	Aug–Sept
10a	Dec–Jan	Aug

Garden Planner Tool

Plan your garden layout using this interactive planner. Enter your garden size to calculate plant spacing and planting timing based on this planting calendar.

This planner helps turn the planting calendar above into a practical garden layout based on your available space.

Succession Planting Calendar (Second & Third Crops)

Florida’s long growing seasons allow multiple plantings per year—essential for maximizing harvests.

Crop	First Planting	Second Planting	Third Planting
Lettuce	Oct–Apr	Apr–Jun	Aug–Oct
Beans	Feb–Apr	May–Jul	Aug–Sep
Cucumbers	Feb–Apr	May–Jun	Aug–Sep
Sweet Corn	Feb–Apr	May–Jun	Aug
Tomatoes	Jan–Mar	Jul–Aug	— (South FL only)

Florida Tropical Vegetable Planting Calendar

South and Central Florida can grow crops not possible elsewhere in the U.S., thanks to nearly frost-free conditions.

Tropical Vegetables	North Florida	Central Florida	South Florida
Malabar Spinach	Apr–Sep	Mar–Oct	Year-round
Taro	Apr–Jun	Mar–Oct	Year-round
Cassava	Apr–Aug	Mar–Sep	Year-round
Chaya (Tree Spinach)	—	Mar–Sep	Year-round
Winged Beans	May–Sep	Apr–Oct	Year-round
Asian Long Beans	Apr–Sep	Mar–Oct	Feb–Nov

Florida Container Gardening Calendar

Perfect for small spaces—containers heat up quickly, giving Florida gardeners an earlier start.

Crop	North Florida	Central Florida	South Florida
Tomatoes	Mar–Jun	Feb–Jun	Jan–Jul
Peppers	Mar–Jul	Feb–Jul	Jan–Aug
Herbs	Mar–Oct	Feb–Oct	Year-round
Cucumbers	Apr–Jun	Mar–Jun	Feb–Jun
Greens (lettuce/spinach)	Oct–Apr	Oct–Apr	Oct–Mar

Florida Heat-Tolerant Crop Guide

Florida summers are hot and humid—these crops survive peak heat better than most vegetables.

Crop	Can Handle Peak Heat?	Best Planting Window
Okra	Yes	Mar–Jul
Sweet Potato	Yes	Mar–Jun
Yardlong Beans	Yes	Apr–Sep
Eggplant	Yes	Feb–Sep
Hot Peppers	Yes	Feb–Jul
Seminole Pumpkin	Yes	Mar–Jun

Florida Rainy Season Planting Calendar

Heavy rains (May–Oct) affect what you can plant outdoors—some crops thrive, others fail.

Crop	Best Time Before Rainy Season	Best Time After Rainy Season
Tomatoes	Jan–Mar	Sep–Oct
Cucumbers	Feb–Apr	Sep–Oct
Peppers	Feb–Apr	Sep–Nov
Greens	Oct–Apr	Oct–Jan
Herbs	Oct–Apr	Oct–Mar

Florida Winter Gardening Calendar

Florida’s mild winters allow unique cool-season gardening unlike the rest of the U.S.

Crop	North Florida	Central Florida	South Florida
Broccoli	Oct–Feb	Sep–Feb	Oct–Feb
Carrots	Sep–Feb	Sep–Feb	Oct–Feb
Lettuce	Oct–Apr	Oct–Apr	Oct–Mar
Cabbage	Oct–Feb	Sep–Feb	Oct–Feb
Peas	Dec–Feb	Nov–Jan	Oct–Jan

Florida Microclimate Planting Zones

Florida has unique micro-zones based on humidity, salt exposure, coastal wind, and soil type.

Micro-Zone	Best Crops	Notes
Coastal Areas	coconut, sea grape, mangos, bananas	Tolerates salt spray
Inland Sandhills	watermelon, peanuts, okra	Dry, fast-draining soils
Wetlands/Mucky Soil	taro, elephant ears	Needs very wet soil
Urban Hotspots	cherry tomatoes, peppers	Heat-reflective microclimates

Florida Flower Planting Calendar

Florida gardeners enjoy extended flower seasons, with warm-season blooms lasting many months and cool-season varieties providing winter color.

Warm-Season Flowers

Zone	Outdoors	Indoors
8a–8b	Mar–Apr	Feb
9a–9b	Feb–Mar	Jan
10a	Jan	Dec

Cool-Season Flowers

Zone	Outdoors
8a–8b	Oct–Nov
9a–10a	Nov–Dec

Florida Perennial Flowers & Bulbs Calendar

Unlike annuals, Florida perennials and bulbs return every year and thrive in humidity, heat, and sandy soils.

Flowers/Bulbs	North Florida	Central Florida	South Florida
Daylily	Feb–Apr	Jan–Mar	Nov–Feb
Crinum Lily	Mar–May	Feb–Apr	Year-round
Lantana	Apr–Sep	Feb–Nov	Year-round
Bulbine	Mar–Oct	Feb–Nov	Year-round
Ginger/Shell Ginger	Apr–Sep	Mar–Oct	Year-round
Plumeria	—	Mar–Jun	Feb–Oct

Florida Cut Flower Garden Calendar

Ideal for florists, bouquets, and home gardens—these cut flowers thrive in Florida’s seasons.

Flower	North Florida	Central Florida	South Florida
Zinnias	Apr–Sep	Mar–Oct	Feb–Nov
Sunflowers	Apr–Sep	Mar–Oct	Feb–Nov
Celosia	Apr–Sep	Mar–Oct	Feb–Nov
Marigolds	Apr–Oct	Mar–Dec	Feb–Dec
Gomphrena	Apr–Sep	Mar–Oct	Feb–Nov

Florida Herb Planting Dates

Herbs grow exceptionally well in Florida’s climate. Basil prefers the long, warm season, while parsley, cilantro, and dill thrive during cooler months. Mint grows nearly anywhere with some shade and steady moisture.

Herb	Best Planting Months
Basil	Feb–Jun
Parsley	Oct–Feb
Cilantro	Oct–Jan
Mint	Year-round
Dill	Oct–Mar

Florida Fall & Winter Planting Calendar

Fall and winter are prime gardening seasons in Florida, especially for leafy greens, herbs, and root crops. Many cool-season vegetables perform better during this period than in the state’s summer heat.

Crop	Best Planting Window
Garlic	Oct–Nov
Onions	Dec–Jan
Lettuce	Oct–Jan
Carrots	Oct–Dec
Spinach	Nov–Feb

Florida Indoor Seed-Start and Transplant Calendar

Crop	Start Indoors	Transplant Outdoors	Notes
Tomatoes	Dec–Jan	Jan–Feb	In South Florida, planting should occur earlier; meanwhile, measures should be taken to protect North Florida from late cold.
Peppers	Dec–Jan	Feb–Mar	The soil requires warmth, so it should be left until later at 8a.
Eggplant	Dec–Jan	Feb–Mar	Strong crop in Central & South FL.
Broccoli	Aug–Sep	Sep–Oct	Fall is the best season statewide.
Cabbage	Aug–Sep	Sep–Oct	This is a reliable fall crop that can be grown in all zones.
Lettuce	Aug–Sep	Sep–Oct	Spring transplants are primarily intended for North Florida.
Basil	Jan–Feb	Feb–Mar	The plant requires warm nights and thrives in 9b–10a.
Herbs (dill, parsley)	Sep–Oct	Oct–Nov	Cool-weather herbs prefer fall–winter.

Florida Harvest and Days-to-Maturity Calendar

Crop	Days to Harvest	Notes
Tomatoes	65–85 days	They grow faster in South Florida and slower in North Florida during cool spells.
Peppers	70–90 days	Heat speeds growth in 9b–10a.
Cucumbers	50–70 days	This is an excellent warm-season crop that is available throughout the state.
Squash	45–60 days	Harvest the squash quickly before pest pressure increases.
Eggplant	70–85 days	Thrives in long warm seasons.
Green Beans	50–60 days	In North Florida, they are grown in the spring and fall, while in South Florida, they are grown nearly year-round.
Carrots	70–90 days	Carrots are considered the best fall-winter crop.
Beets	50–70 days	Beets thrive in cool months.
Onions	100–120 days	Short-day types are needed in Florida.
Potatoes	70–100 days	For 8a–9b, it’s a spring crop; for 10a, it’s an earlier crop.

Florida Fruit Trees Planting Calendar

Florida’s long, warm growing season supports a huge range of fruit trees—from citrus to tropicals. Plant during cooler months when soil temperatures are gentle and rainfall is reliable.

Fruit Tree	North Florida (8a–8b)	Central Florida (9a–9b)	South Florida (10a–10b)
Citrus (orange, lemon, lime)	Feb–Apr	Jan–Mar	Oct–Feb
Mango	— (too cold)	Mar–Jun (protected spots)	Feb–Jul
Avocado	Mar–May	Feb–Apr	Oct–Apr
Papaya	Apr–Sep	Feb–Sep	Year-round
Fig	Jan–Mar	Jan–Mar	Dec–Feb
Pomegranate	Feb–Apr	Jan–Mar	Nov–Feb
Guava	Apr–Sep	Feb–Sep	Year-round
Banana	Apr–Sep	Mar–Sep	Year-round
Loquat	Nov–Feb	Nov–Feb	Nov–Feb

Florida Berry & Vineyard Planting Calendar

Berries grow exceptionally well in Florida’s mild winters—especially blueberries, strawberries, and muscadine grapes.

Berry / Vine	North Florida	Central Florida	South Florida
Blueberries (Southern Highbush)	Jan–Feb	Dec–Jan	Nov–Dec
Strawberries	Sep–Nov	Sep–Oct	Sep–Oct
Raspberries (limited varieties)	Feb–Mar	Jan–Feb	—
Blackberries	Jan–Mar	Dec–Feb	Nov–Jan
Muscadine Grapes	Jan–Mar	Dec–Feb	Dec–Jan
Passionfruit Vine	Apr–Sep	Mar–Oct	Year-round

Florida Native & Wildlife-Friendly Plants

Native plants thrive with less water and support butterflies, birds, and bees—crucial for Florida’s fragile ecosystems.

Native Plant	Best Planting Time	Notes
Milkweed (native species)	Feb–May	Monarch host plant
Firebush	Mar–Oct	Hummingbird favorite
Coreopsis (State Flower)	Feb–Apr	Pollinator magnet
Muhly Grass	Mar–May	Drought-tolerant
Beautyberry	Nov–Mar	Birds love purple berries
Coontie	Mar–Jun	Host plant for Atala butterfly
Carolina Jessamine	Oct–Feb	Winter nectar

Florida Soil and Plant Spacing Chart

Crop Type	Soil Needs	Spacing	Notes
Tomatoes	Loamy, compost-rich, well-drained	18–24 in	Add organic matter to sandy soil.
Peppers	Loose, well-drained soil	16–18 in	Mulch to reduce heat stress.
Root Crops	Loose, deep soil	Thin to 2–4 in	Avoid compact sand; add compost.
Cucumbers/Squash	Rich soil, consistent moisture	24–36 in	Trellising offers significant benefits in small spaces.
Herbs	Well-drained soil	8–12 in	Mint prefers moisture; basil loves heat.
Flowers	Loamy, compost-rich	8–12 in	Marigolds thrive statewide.

Florida Heat and Pest Timing Calendar

Season	Conditions	Key Pests	Notes
Early Spring	Mild	Aphids, caterpillars	This is a great season for growing greens and herbs.
Late Spring	Warm–hot	Whiteflies, leafminers	Monitor tomatoes closely.
Summer	Hot, humid	Spider mites, fungal issues	This is the ideal season for okra, eggplant, and tropical vegetables.
Late Summer	Intense heat	Worms, mildew	Prep fall beds; plant heat-tolerant herbs.
Fall	Mild	Caterpillars	Prime growing season statewide.
Winter	Cool–mild	Low pest pressure	The season is ideal for growing leafy greens and roots.

Florida Zone-Based Planting Notes

Region	USDA Zones	Key Notes
Northern Florida	8a–8b	There is a shorter warm season, the possibility of frost, and strong fall/winter gardening.
Central Florida	9a–9b	The region enjoys a long warm season, necessitating summer breaks and producing exceptional fall crops.
South Florida/Keys	10a	Plant nearly year-round; tropical vegetables excel; peak season is fall–spring.

Regional Planting Notes

Northern Florida (8a–8b)

Cooler temperatures and occasional frost mean later spring planting and stronger winter gardens. Many cool-season crops grow best in fall and early spring.

Central Florida (9a–9b)

Warm seasons are long, allowing a wide range of vegetables and flowers. Heat-tolerant varieties help during midsummer. Fall gardening is especially productive.

Southern Florida / Keys (10a)

Mild winters allow planting almost every month. Tropical and heat-loving crops thrive, and vegetables typically perform best from fall through early spring.

Florida Month-by-Month Planting Overview

Florida gardeners enjoy a long season, but timing still shifts as you move from the Panhandle to the Keys. This simple month-by-month guide shows when most gardeners start seeds, transplant young plants, and prepare for the next season.

Month	What to Plant
January	In January, cultivate greens, herbs, and cool-season vegetables; in warmer zones, start indoors with tomatoes.
February	Warm-season crops begin in Central and South Florida; roots and greens continue in the north.
March	The primary warm-season crops planted statewide include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and beans.
April	Heat-tolerant vegetables and flowers: okra, sweet potatoes, and tropical annuals.
May	Summer herbs and flowers and tropical vegetables grow well now.
June	June sees the growth of okra, Seminole pumpkin, Malabar spinach, chaya, and other warm-season herbs.
July	Tropical crops continue; North Florida begins preparing fall beds.
August	Early fall planting is underway in Central and South Florida, with the start of the growing season for greens.
September	In September, cool-season seeds are planted in the north and central areas, while herbs and flowers are grown throughout the state.
October	October sees the planting of lettuce, carrots, and other roots, along with numerous cool-season herbs.
November	Garlic, onions, winter greens, and herbs are being planted in warmer regions.
December	In southern regions, greens, herbs, and root vegetables are continuously planted throughout the winter.

What Grows Best in Florida

Florida’s warm climate supports a wide range of vegetables, herbs, and flowers. The crops below tend to perform especially well in both sandy coastal soil and heavier inland ground.

Vegetables:
Vegetables include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, squash, beans, okra, sweet potatoes, Seminole pumpkin, Malabar spinach, and tropical greens.

Leafy crops:
Lettuce, kale, collards, Swiss chard, arugula, and spinach are best grown from fall through early spring.

Root crops:
Carrots, beets, radishes, turnips, onions, and garlic (mainly fall and winter).

Herbs:
Basil, cilantro, parsley, mint, oregano, thyme, lemongrass, and dill.

Flowers:
Marigolds, zinnias, cosmos, celosia, vinca, salvia, sunflowers, plus pansies and violas during cooler months.

These plants perform well because they handle Florida’s combination of warmth, humidity, and long growing periods. Use the zone tables above to match each crop with its ideal planting window in your part of the state.

Data sources

USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide
University of Florida IFAS Planting Guides

Planting Guidance in Other States

You can also view our California Planting Calendar, Texas Planting Calendar, and Arizona Planting Calendar.