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Frost dates and planting calendar for Tallahassee, Florida

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
9a[1]
Median last spring frost
Mar 11[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 21[3]
Growing season, median
255 days[4]

Tallahassee, Florida is in USDA hardiness zone 9a[1]. The median last spring frost at the nearest NOAA station is March 11, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Feb 18, half of years Mar 11, 1 in 10 years after Mar 30Last frostmedian Mar 11First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 14, half of years Nov 21, 1 in 10 years before Nov 3First frostmedian Nov 21Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 11 to Feb 25Feb 11 to Feb 25Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Feb 25 to Mar 11Feb 25 to Mar 11TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 11around Mar 11Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Mar 25from Mar 25
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

These frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Tallahassee weather station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after February 18, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after March 30[2]. In the fall, the median first frost date is November 21, and in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 3[3]. These are chances from past records and not a forecast, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after February 18 after March 11 after March 30
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 3 before November 21 before December 14
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date February 25, median first fall date December 6[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 226 days in 9 of 10 years, 255 days in half of years and 286 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 99.1% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Tallahassee (USW00093805), 6 miles from the city center, 63 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so GardenFacts applies its rules to Tallahassee's NOAA median last frost of March 11[6]. CSU puts broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, peas and spinach in the hardy group, which can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the average last frost, or February 11 to February 25 here[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before, which is February 25, up to the median date itself[9]. Snap beans and sweet corn are tender and go in from seed around March 11[10]. Tomatoes and peppers are very tender and typically wait 2 or more weeks after the last frost, so the earliest start is March 25[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (March 11) is February 11 to February 25[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 11) is February 25, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 11[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 11), is March 25[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 11 Apr 17 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 11 May 7 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 11 Apr 2
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 11 Apr 12
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 11 Jun 1
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 11 Apr 17
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 11 Mar 13
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 11 Mar 23
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 11 Apr 2
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 25 Apr 26
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 25 May 6
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 25 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 25 May 6
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 25 Jun 30
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Feb 25 Apr 26
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 11 May 10
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 11 May 10
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 11 May 5
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 11 Apr 30
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Mar 25 Jun 18
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Mar 25 May 24 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Mar 25 Jun 3 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Mar 25 May 29 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Mar 25 Jul 3
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Mar 25 Jun 18
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 9a means an average yearly coldest night of 20°F to 25°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone comes from the USDA map and is based on the coldest winter night, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. All of Tallahassee's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9a[15].

Zone 9a: average annual extreme minimum temperature 20°F to 25°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 21.3°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 9a 100%[15].

All towns in zone 9a and what zone 9a means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
32309[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32311[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32308[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32312[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32303[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32301[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32310[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32305[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32304[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32317[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32399[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32307[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32313[15] 9a 20 to 25°F
32306[15] 9a 20 to 25°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Tallahassee?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Tallahassee in zone 9a[1]. By land area, 100% of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated 9a[15].
When is the last frost in Tallahassee?
The median last spring frost is March 11, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after March 30[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Tallahassee?
CSU Extension says very tender vegetables like tomatoes typically wait 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, which makes March 25 the earliest start here[11]. CSU's guide was written for Colorado[11].
When is the first frost in Tallahassee?
The median first fall frost is November 21[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before November 3, and in 9 of 10 years it comes before December 14[3].
How long is the growing season in Tallahassee?
The season between the last and first 32°F frost is at least 255 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 226 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Tallahassee, Florida in zone 9a. Zone 9a means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 20°F to 25°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 21.3°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after February 18, in half of years after March 11, and in 1 of 10 years after March 30 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 11. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 3, in half of years before November 21, and in 9 of 10 years before December 14 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 21. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 226 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 255 days in half of years, and at least 286 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Tallahassee weather station (USW00093805), 6 miles from the center of Tallahassee at 63 feet, using 30 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is February 25 and the median first fall date is December 6. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 99.1% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Tallahassee, Florida overlaps 14 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9a. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.