When to plant in Boca Raton, FL
USDA Zone 11aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Boca Raton, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Boca Raton's growing season is short at roughly -5 days, so succession planting is limited; lean on transplants over direct sowing for anything slow to mature. These dates come from a station roughly 18 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Boca Raton (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 11a is warm enough that Boca Raton can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
LOXAHATCHEE NWR · 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 Boca Raton’s own odds, recorded at LOXAHATCHEE NWR.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 22 | Jan 26 | Jan 3 | Dec 28 | Jan 16 | Feb 13 |
| 32°F | Feb 7 | Jan 22 | Dec 31 | Dec 31 | Jan 17 | Feb 5 |
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 Boca Raton, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Boca Raton planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Boca Raton, FL?
Boca Raton's average last spring frost falls near January 22 — 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 Boca Raton, FL?
In Boca Raton, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around January 17 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Boca Raton in?
Boca Raton is in USDA hardiness zone 11a. In zone 11a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Boca Raton?
There are roughly -5 frost-free days in Boca Raton (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 22 to the first fall frost near January 17.
When should I plant tomatoes in Boca Raton?
In Boca Raton, start tomato seeds indoors around November 27–December 11, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 29 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Boca Raton
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Boca Raton’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Deerfield Beach · 7 km
- Delray Beach · 9 km
- Lighthouse Point · 11 km
- Coconut Creek · 13 km
- Pompano Beach · 15 km
- Parkland · 16 km
- Boynton Beach · 17 km
- Margate · 18 km
Frost dates recorded at LOXAHATCHEE NWR, 18 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 Boca Raton, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 11a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00085184. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/boca-raton.