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Pensacola, Florida planting calendar and frost dates

Pensacola is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 14 and the first fall frost around December 9, giving about 301 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 9a
Typical last frost
February 14
Typical first frost
December 9
Frost-free season
301 days

Frost dates in Pensacola

Last spring frost

  • January 21Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • February 14Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • March 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • November 17Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • December 9Typical: 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 Pensacola Rgnl Airport, 0.3 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 Pensacola

  1. January

    Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, 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, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers

  2. February

    Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme

  3. March

    Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  4. April

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  5. May

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  6. August

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes, tomatoes

  7. September

    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

  8. October

    Start indoors: onions

    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

  9. November

    Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus

    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

  10. December

    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

    Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Pensacola

All 5 of Pensacola's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Pensacola Rgnl Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
325019aPensacola Rgnl Airport, 4 mi NNEFeb 14Dec 9
325029aPensacola Rgnl Airport, 5.3 mi NNEFeb 14Dec 9
325039aPensacola Rgnl Airport, 2 mi NEFeb 14Dec 9
325049aPensacola Rgnl Airport, 0.3 mi NFeb 14Dec 9
325059aPensacola Rgnl Airport, 4.7 mi ENEFeb 14Dec 9

Planting dates for popular crops in Pensacola

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesJan 6 to 20Mar 3 to 17Aug 26 to Sep 2
Strawberries—Jan 3 to 17—
LettuceDec 20 to Jan 3Feb 7 to 21Sep 9 to Oct 14
CilantroJan 3 to 17Feb 14 to 21—
BasilJan 13 to 27Mar 3 to 10—
Potatoes—Jan 24 to 31Aug 19 to 26
Garlic—Jan 3 to 17Dec 9 to 23
OnionsOct 25 to Dec 6Jan 17 to 31—
CucumbersFeb 3 to 17Mar 3 to 17Sep 9 to 23
PumpkinsFeb 3 to 17Mar 3 to 17—
PeppersDec 16 to Jan 13Mar 3 to 17Aug 19 to Sep 16
Carrots—Jan 24 to Feb 14Sep 16 to Oct 7
Sweet Potatoes—Apr 1 to 8—
WatermelonsJan 27 to Feb 10Mar 3 to 17—
Sweet Corn—Feb 14 to 28Sep 2 to 16
Green Beans—Mar 3 to 17Sep 16 to 23
ZucchiniFeb 3 to 17Mar 3 to 17Sep 16 to 30
BroccoliNov 29 to Dec 20Jan 17 to 31Sep 23 to Oct 21
Peas—Jan 3 to 17Sep 16 to 30
SpinachJan 3 to 10Feb 7 to 21Sep 30 to Nov 4
Sunflowers—Feb 14 to Mar 7—
ZinniasMar 26 to Apr 2Apr 23 to May 7—
Tulips——Oct 28 to Dec 23
Daffodils——Oct 28 to Dec 9
Grass Seed—Jan 3 to 17Oct 28 to Nov 11

Nearby cities

Planting in FloridaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Pensacola

Questions

When is the last frost in Pensacola?

Around February 14 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Pensacola Rgnl Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 11.

What planting zone is Pensacola in?

USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Pensacola?

Start seeds indoors January 6 to 20 and set plants out March 3 to 17; the safest date to plant out is after March 11.

When is the first frost in Pensacola?

Around December 9 in a typical year, and before November 17 about 1 year in 10.