Apopka, Florida planting calendar and frost dates
Apopka is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 24 and the first fall frost around December 29, giving about 301 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 24
- Typical first frost
- December 29
- Frost-free season
- 301 days
Frost dates in Apopka
Last spring frost
- January 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 20Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 29Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- New yearLate: in about 1 year in 10, the first frost waits until after December 31
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 301 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Mt Plymouth 1ssw, 4.4 miles N of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Apopka
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, turnips
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
September
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
October
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, tomatoes
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Apopka
Apopka's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Apopka
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Sep 15 to 22 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Sep 29 to Nov 3 |
| Cilantro | Jan 13 to 27 | Feb 24 to Mar 3 | — |
| Basil | Jan 13 to 27 | Mar 3 to 10 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 3 to 10 | Sep 8 to 15 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 13 to 27 | Dec 29 to Jan 12 |
| Onions | Nov 4 to Dec 16 | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 3 to 17 | Sep 29 to Oct 13 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 10 to 24 | Mar 10 to 24 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 16 to Jan 13 | Mar 3 to 17 | Sep 8 to Oct 6 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 3 to 24 | Oct 6 to 27 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 22 to 29 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Mar 3 to 17 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Sep 22 to Oct 6 |
| Green Beans | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Oct 6 to 13 |
| Zucchini | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 3 to 17 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Broccoli | Dec 9 to 30 | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Oct 13 to Nov 10 |
| Peas | — | Jan 13 to 27 | Oct 6 to 20 |
| Spinach | Jan 13 to 20 | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Oct 20 to Nov 24 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 24 to Mar 17 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 20 to 27 | Apr 17 to May 1 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 17 to Jan 12 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 17 to Dec 29 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 13 to 27 | Nov 17 to Dec 1 |
Nearby cities
- Ocoee, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 25
- Sanford, FL zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Clermont, FL zone 9b, last frost Jan 29
- Orlando, FL zone 10a
- Deltona, FL zone 9b, last frost Jan 26
- Kissimmee, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 28
Planting in FloridaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Apopka
Questions
When is the last frost in Apopka?
Around February 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Mt Plymouth 1ssw. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 20.
What planting zone is Apopka in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Apopka?
Start seeds indoors December 30 to January 13 and set plants out February 24 to March 10; the safest date to plant out is after March 20.
When is the first frost in Apopka?
Around December 29 in a typical year, and before November 29 about 1 year in 10.