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
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
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
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
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
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
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
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
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 code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32501 | 9a | Pensacola Rgnl Airport, 4 mi NNE | Feb 14 | Dec 9 |
| 32502 | 9a | Pensacola Rgnl Airport, 5.3 mi NNE | Feb 14 | Dec 9 |
| 32503 | 9a | Pensacola Rgnl Airport, 2 mi NE | Feb 14 | Dec 9 |
| 32504 | 9a | Pensacola Rgnl Airport, 0.3 mi N | Feb 14 | Dec 9 |
| 32505 | 9a | Pensacola Rgnl Airport, 4.7 mi ENE | Feb 14 | Dec 9 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Pensacola
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 6 to 20 | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 26 to Sep 2 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 3 to 17 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Feb 7 to 21 | Sep 9 to Oct 14 |
| Cilantro | Jan 3 to 17 | Feb 14 to 21 | — |
| Basil | Jan 13 to 27 | Mar 3 to 10 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 24 to 31 | Aug 19 to 26 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 3 to 17 | Dec 9 to 23 |
| Onions | Oct 25 to Dec 6 | Jan 17 to 31 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 3 to 17 | Sep 9 to 23 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 3 to 17 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 16 to Jan 13 | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 19 to Sep 16 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 24 to Feb 14 | Sep 16 to Oct 7 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Mar 3 to 17 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 14 to 28 | Sep 2 to 16 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 3 to 17 | Sep 16 to 23 |
| Zucchini | Feb 3 to 17 | Mar 3 to 17 | Sep 16 to 30 |
| Broccoli | Nov 29 to Dec 20 | Jan 17 to 31 | Sep 23 to Oct 21 |
| Peas | — | Jan 3 to 17 | Sep 16 to 30 |
| Spinach | Jan 3 to 10 | Feb 7 to 21 | Sep 30 to Nov 4 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 14 to Mar 7 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 26 to Apr 2 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 28 to Dec 23 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 28 to Dec 9 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 3 to 17 | Oct 28 to Nov 11 |
Nearby cities
- Mobile, AL zone 9a, last frost Feb 21
- Gulfport, MS zone 9a, last frost Feb 23
- Dothan, AL zone 9a, last frost Mar 1
- Montgomery, AL zone 8b, last frost Mar 13
- New Orleans, LA zone 9b, last frost Jan 24
- Tallahassee, FL zone 9a, last frost Mar 11
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.