Ocala, Florida planting calendar and frost dates
Ocala is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 25 and the first fall frost around December 12, giving about 293 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- February 25
- Typical first frost
- December 12
- Frost-free season
- 293 days
Frost dates in Ocala
Last spring frost
- January 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 25Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 21Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 21Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 12Typical: 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 293 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ocala, 8.1 miles E 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 Ocala
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, 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
February
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, 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: basil, cantaloupes, celery, 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, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
August
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: onions
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
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, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Ocala
All 7 of Ocala's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Ocala, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 9a in 34470, 34471, 34474, 34475, 34476, 34482, and 9b in 34480.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34470 | 9a | Ocala, 2.6 mi S | Feb 25 | Dec 12 |
| 34471 | 9a | Ocala, 3 mi E | Feb 25 | Dec 12 |
| 34474 | 9a | Ocala, 8.1 mi E | Feb 25 | Dec 12 |
| 34475 | 9a | Ocala, 8 mi SE | Feb 25 | Dec 12 |
| 34476 | 9a | Ocala, 8.7 mi NE | Feb 25 | Dec 12 |
| 34480 | 9b | Ocala, 4.9 mi NNE | Feb 25 | Dec 12 |
| 34482 | 9a | Ocala, 13.1 mi ESE | Feb 25 | Dec 12 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Ocala
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Aug 29 to Sep 5 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 14 to 28 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Sep 12 to Oct 17 |
| Cilantro | Jan 14 to 28 | Feb 25 to Mar 4 | — |
| Basil | Jan 14 to 28 | Mar 4 to 11 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 4 to 11 | Aug 22 to 29 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 14 to 28 | Dec 12 to 26 |
| Onions | Nov 5 to Dec 17 | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 4 to 18 | Sep 12 to 26 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 11 to 25 | Mar 11 to 25 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 17 to Jan 14 | Mar 4 to 18 | Aug 22 to Sep 19 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 4 to 25 | Sep 19 to Oct 10 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 14 to 21 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Mar 4 to 18 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Sep 5 to 19 |
| Green Beans | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Sep 19 to 26 |
| Zucchini | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 4 to 18 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
| Broccoli | Dec 10 to 31 | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Sep 26 to Oct 24 |
| Peas | — | Jan 14 to 28 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
| Spinach | Jan 14 to 21 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Oct 3 to Nov 7 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 25 to Mar 18 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 16 to 23 | Apr 13 to 27 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 31 to Dec 26 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 31 to Dec 12 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 14 to 28 | Oct 31 to Nov 14 |
Nearby cities
- Gainesville, FL zone 9a, last frost Mar 3
- Apopka, FL zone 9b, last frost Feb 24
- Clermont, FL zone 9b, last frost Jan 29
- Ocoee, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 25
- Sanford, FL zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Deltona, FL zone 9b, last frost Jan 26
Planting in FloridaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Ocala
Questions
When is the last frost in Ocala?
Around February 25 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Ocala. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 21.
What planting zone is Ocala in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 9b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Ocala?
Start seeds indoors December 31 to January 14 and set plants out February 25 to March 11; the safest date to plant out is after March 21.
When is the first frost in Ocala?
Around December 12 in a typical year, and before November 21 about 1 year in 10.