Apalachicola Airport, FL Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Apalachicola Airport garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Feb 20
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 13
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
296 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Jan 20 Feb 20 Mar 12
First fall frost Jan 16 Dec 13 Nov 17
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Feb 5 · first Jan 1

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the APALACHICOLA AIRPORT station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Apalachicola Airport

Computed from Apalachicola Airport's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-9 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Dec 26 – Jan 9 Feb 27 – Mar 6
🫑 Peppers Dec 12 – Dec 26 Mar 6 – Mar 13
🥬 Lettuce Jan 9 – Jan 23 Jan 23 – Feb 6 Jan 23 – Feb 20
🫛 Peas Jan 9 – Jan 23
🥕 Carrots Jan 30 – Feb 20
🥦 Broccoli Jan 2 – Jan 16 Jan 30 – Feb 13
🥬 Kale Jan 9 – Jan 23 Jan 23 – Feb 6 Jan 23 – Feb 6
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 23 – Jan 30 Feb 27 – Mar 6 Feb 27 – Mar 6
🥒 Zucchini Jan 23 – Jan 30 Feb 27 – Mar 6 Feb 27 – Mar 6
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Feb 27 – Mar 6
🌽 Sweet Corn Feb 27 – Mar 6
🌿 Basil Jan 9 – Jan 23 Feb 27 – Mar 6 Mar 6 – Mar 13
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 1 – Nov 29

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Apalachicola Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Apalachicola Airport

With roughly 296 frost-free days, Apalachicola Airport gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Dec 13 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Apalachicola Airport, FL?

The average last spring frost in Apalachicola Airport is around Feb 20, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Apalachicola Airport, FL?

The average first fall frost in Apalachicola Airport arrives around Dec 13. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Apalachicola Airport?

About 296 frost-free days on average, from Feb 20 to Dec 13. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Apalachicola Airport in?

USDA zone 9b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.