Jacksonville, FL Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Feb 1
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Jan 5
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
338 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
9b
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 31 Feb 1 Mar 3
First fall frost Feb 6 Jan 5 Dec 3
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 22 · first Jan 14

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Jacksonville NAS station (11 km from central Jacksonville). "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 Jacksonville

Computed from Jacksonville'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 7 – Dec 21 Feb 8 – Feb 15
🫑 Peppers Nov 23 – Dec 7 Feb 15 – Feb 22
🥬 Lettuce Dec 21 – Jan 4 Jan 4 – Jan 18 Jan 4 – Feb 1
🫛 Peas Dec 21 – Jan 4
🥕 Carrots Jan 11 – Feb 1
🥦 Broccoli Dec 14 – Dec 28 Jan 11 – Jan 25
🥬 Kale Dec 21 – Jan 4 Jan 4 – Jan 18 Jan 4 – Jan 18
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 4 – Jan 11 Feb 8 – Feb 15 Feb 8 – Feb 15
🥒 Zucchini Jan 4 – Jan 11 Feb 8 – Feb 15 Feb 8 – Feb 15
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Feb 8 – Feb 15
🌽 Sweet Corn Feb 8 – Feb 15
🌿 Basil Dec 21 – Jan 4 Feb 8 – Feb 15 Feb 15 – Feb 22
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 24 – Dec 22

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 Jacksonville's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Jacksonville

With roughly 338 frost-free days, Jacksonville 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 Jan 5 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Jacksonville, FL?

The average last spring frost in Jacksonville is around Feb 1, 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 Jacksonville, FL?

The average first fall frost in Jacksonville arrives around Jan 5. 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 Jacksonville?

About 338 frost-free days on average, from Feb 1 to Jan 5. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Jacksonville 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.