Winter Haven, Florida planting calendar and frost dates
Winter Haven is in USDA hardiness zone 10a, and frost is rare: a 32°F night happens in about 33% of years.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 10a
Frost dates in Winter Haven
A 32°F night is rare here: it happens in about 33% of years, so median frost dates do not describe a typical year.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Winter Haven Gilbert Airport, 3.2 miles WNW 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 Winter Haven
The main vegetable season runs from August through March. Cool-season crops go in September-February, and warm crops like tomatoes and peppers get two shots, August-September and January-February. Occasional freezes mean tender plants need protection in winter. From June to August the heat and rain limit planting to tropical and heat-tolerant crops. The months below follow the planting calendar for Central Florida from the Cooperative Extension sources listed.
January
Plant: beets, blueberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplants, figs, garlic, grapes, green onions, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, peppers, petunias, pineapples, potatoes, radishes, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
February
Plant: azaleas, basil, beets, blueberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, cantaloupes, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, eggplants, figs, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kale, lettuce, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, peas, peppers, petunias, pineapples, potatoes, radishes, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
March
Plant: basil, cantaloupes, carrots, celery, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, ginger, green beans, green onions, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, peanuts, peppers, pineapples, radishes, rosemary, sage, spinach, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Plant: basil, chives, daylilies, ginger, green beans, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peanuts, pineapples, rosemary, sage, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, winter squash, zucchini
May
Plant: basil, chives, ginger, okra, peanuts, pineapples, rosemary, sweet potatoes, swiss chard
June
Plant: basil, chives, ginger, okra, pineapples, rosemary, sweet potatoes
July
Plant: chives, ginger, gladioli, okra, pineapples, pumpkins, rosemary
August
Plant: carrots, chives, eggplants, ginger, green beans, green onions, okra, peppers, pineapples, rosemary, tomatoes, winter squash, zucchini
September
Plant: basil, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, dill, eggplants, green beans, green onions, kale, lavenders, lettuce, mints, parsley, peppers, pineapples, radishes, rosemary, sage, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, turnips, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
October
Plant: basil, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dill, garlic, green onions, kale, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, parsley, petunias, pineapples, radishes, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
November
Plant: beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, daylilies, dill, garlic, green onions, kale, lettuce, nasturtiums, parsley, peas, petunias, pineapples, potatoes, radishes, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
December
Plant: beets, blueberries, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dill, figs, garlic, grapes, green onions, kale, lettuce, parsley, peas, petunias, pineapples, potatoes, radishes, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
Sources for the Central Florida calendar
- Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide (SP103/VH021), Table 1 planting dates · UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- Edibles to Plant in Florida: Text (month-by-month, North/Central/South) · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Central Florida Gardening Calendar (ENH1189/EP450) · UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- Osceola County, FL Planting Calendar for Herbs, Spices & Edible Flowers · UF/IFAS Extension Osceola County
- Strawberries – Gardening Solutions · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Ginger – Gardening Solutions · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Peanuts – Gardening Solutions · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Dill – Gardening Solutions · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Blueberry Gardener's Guide (CIR1192/MG359) · UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- The Fig (HS27/MG214) · UF/IFAS Extension (EDIS)
- Muscadine Grapes – Gardening Solutions · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Roses – Gardening Solutions · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Snapdragon – Gardening Solutions · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
- Petunias – Gardening Solutions · UF/IFAS Gardening Solutions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Winter Haven
Winter Haven's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 3 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from January 24 in 33830 to February 4 in 33884. Every one of them is in zone 10a.
Nearby cities
- Lakeland, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 26
- Kissimmee, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 28
- St. Cloud, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 25
- Clermont, FL zone 9b, last frost Jan 29
- Orlando, FL zone 10a
- Ocoee, FL zone 10a, last frost Jan 25
Planting in FloridaAbout zone 10aCentral Florida planting calendarPrintable calendar for Winter Haven
Questions
When is the last frost in Winter Haven?
Frost is rare in Winter Haven: a 32°F night happens in about 33% of years, so planting follows the Central Florida calendar on this page rather than frost dates.
What planting zone is Winter Haven in?
USDA hardiness zone 10a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting times follow the regional calendar instead.