When to plant in Bartow, FL
USDA Zone 10aBartow, Florida frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With only about -17 frost-free days, Bartow has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. In zone 10a, frost is a minor factor for Bartow — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Bartow is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BARTOW 1SE · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Bartow’s own odds, recorded at BARTOW 1SE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 7 | Feb 6 | Jan 9 | Dec 2 | Dec 30 | Jan 28 |
| 32°F | Feb 20 | Jan 24 | Dec 27 | Dec 17 | Jan 7 | Feb 6 |
| 28°F | Feb 8 | Jan 19 | Dec 26 | Dec 25 | Jan 11 | Feb 6 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.
Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Bartow, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Bartow planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Bartow, FL?
Bartow's average last spring frost falls near January 24 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Bartow, FL?
The first fall frost in Bartow typically arrives around January 7 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Bartow in?
Bartow is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Bartow?
Bartow has about -17 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 24) and first fall frost (January 7).
When should I plant tomatoes in Bartow?
For Bartow, sow tomatoes indoors about November 29–December 13 and move the seedlings out around January 31, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Bartow
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Bartow’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Highland City · 10 km
- Lakeland Highlands · 15 km
- Medulla · 18 km
- Fuller Heights · 18 km
- Cypress Gardens · 18 km
- Winter Haven · 20 km
- Lake Wales · 22 km
- Lakeland · 23 km
Frost dates recorded at BARTOW 1SE, 1 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Bartow, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00080478. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/bartow.