Sanford, Florida planting calendar and frost dates
Sanford is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 24 and the first fall frost around January 9, giving about 352 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 24
- Typical first frost
- January 9
- Frost-free season
- 352 days
Frost dates in Sanford
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 23Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- January 9Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- February 6Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 352 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Orlando Sanford Airport, 1.9 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 Sanford
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, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, 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 Sanford
Sanford's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from January 24 in 32773 to January 26 in 32771. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Sanford
| 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 | — | Mar 1 to 8 | — |
| 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 6 to 13 | Apr 3 to 17 | — |
| 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
- Deltona, FL zone 9b, last frost Jan 26
- Apopka, FL zone 9b, last frost Feb 24
- Ocoee, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 25
- Orlando, FL zone 10a
- Port Orange, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 30
- Daytona Beach, FL zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
Planting in FloridaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Sanford
Questions
When is the last frost in Sanford?
Around January 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Orlando Sanford Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 23.
What planting zone is Sanford 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 Sanford?
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 23.
When is the first frost in Sanford?
Around January 9 in a typical year, and before December 15 about 1 year in 10.