Melbourne, Florida planting calendar and frost dates
Melbourne is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 24 and the first fall frost around January 9, giving about 359 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 10a
- Typical last frost
- January 24
- Typical first frost
- January 9
- Frost-free season
- 359 days
Frost dates in Melbourne
Last spring frost
- December 29Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 24Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 20Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- January 9Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- February 13Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 359 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Melbourne Wfo, 2.2 miles S of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Melbourne shares this station with Palm Bay, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Melbourne
January
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, 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, watermelons, zucchini
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
February
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
September
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, tomatoes
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, 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, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
December
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: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Melbourne
All 4 of Melbourne's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Melbourne Wfo, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 10a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32901 | 10a | Melbourne Wfo, 6.8 mi NW | Jan 24 | Jan 9 |
| 32904 | 10a | Melbourne Wfo, 6.8 mi NW | Jan 24 | Jan 9 |
| 32934 | 10a | Melbourne Wfo, 3.9 mi ESE | Jan 24 | Jan 9 |
| 32935 | 10a | Melbourne Wfo, 2.2 mi S | Jan 24 | Jan 9 |
Melbourne Wfo also supplies the frost dates for Palm Bay, so their planting calendars match Melbourne's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Melbourne
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Nov 29 to Dec 13 | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Sep 26 to Oct 3 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 29 to Dec 13 | Jan 17 to 31 | Oct 10 to Nov 14 |
| Cilantro | Dec 13 to 27 | Jan 24 to 31 | — |
| Basil | Dec 13 to 27 | Jan 31 to Feb 7 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 3 to 10 | Sep 19 to 26 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 13 to 27 | Jan 9 to 23 |
| Onions | Oct 4 to Nov 15 | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Jan 3 to 17 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Oct 10 to 24 |
| Pumpkins | Jan 10 to 24 | Feb 7 to 21 | — |
| Peppers | Nov 15 to Dec 13 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 3 to 24 | Oct 17 to Nov 7 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Feb 26 to Mar 5 | — |
| Watermelons | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Oct 3 to 17 |
| Green Beans | — | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Oct 17 to 24 |
| Zucchini | Jan 3 to 17 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Oct 17 to 31 |
| Broccoli | Nov 8 to 29 | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | Oct 24 to Nov 21 |
| Peas | — | Dec 13 to 27 | Oct 17 to 31 |
| Spinach | Dec 13 to 20 | Jan 17 to 31 | Oct 31 to Dec 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 10 to 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 28 to Jan 23 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 28 to Jan 9 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 13 to 27 | Nov 28 to Dec 12 |
Nearby cities
- Palm Bay, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 24
- St. Cloud, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 25
- Orlando, FL zone 10a
- Kissimmee, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 28
- Fort Pierce, FL zone 10a
- Port St. Lucie, FL zone 10a
Planting in FloridaAbout zone 10aPrintable calendar for Melbourne
Questions
When is the last frost in Melbourne?
Around January 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Melbourne Wfo. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 24.
What planting zone is Melbourne in?
USDA hardiness zone 10a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Melbourne?
Start seeds indoors November 29 to December 13 and set plants out January 24 to February 7; the safest date to plant out is after February 24.
When is the first frost in Melbourne?
Around January 9 in a typical year, and before December 20 about 1 year in 10.