Orlando, FL Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Jan 17
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Jan 13
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
361 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
10a
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 26 Jan 17 Feb 9
First fall frost Feb 6 Jan 13 Dec 23

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Orlando Executive Airport station (5 km from central Orlando). "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 Orlando

Computed from Orlando's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-10 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Nov 22 – Dec 6 Jan 24 – Jan 31
🫑 Peppers Nov 8 – Nov 22 Jan 31 – Feb 7
🥬 Lettuce Dec 6 – Dec 20 Dec 20 – Jan 3 Dec 20 – Jan 17
🫛 Peas Dec 6 – Dec 20
🥕 Carrots Dec 27 – Jan 17
🥦 Broccoli Nov 29 – Dec 13 Dec 27 – Jan 10
🥬 Kale Dec 6 – Dec 20 Dec 20 – Jan 3 Dec 20 – Jan 3
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 20 – Dec 27 Jan 24 – Jan 31 Jan 24 – Jan 31
🥒 Zucchini Dec 20 – Dec 27 Jan 24 – Jan 31 Jan 24 – Jan 31
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 24 – Jan 31
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 24 – Jan 31
🌿 Basil Dec 6 – Dec 20 Jan 24 – Jan 31 Jan 31 – Feb 7
🧄 Garlic Fall: Dec 2 – Dec 30

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 Orlando's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Orlando

With roughly 361 frost-free days, Orlando 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 13 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Orlando, FL?

The average last spring frost in Orlando is around Jan 17, 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 Orlando, FL?

The average first fall frost in Orlando arrives around Jan 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 Orlando?

About 361 frost-free days on average, from Jan 17 to Jan 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 Orlando in?

USDA zone 10a 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.