When to plant in Brandon, FL
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Brandon, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With only about -24 frost-free days, Brandon has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 18 km from Brandon, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 9b is warm enough that Brandon can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Brandon is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
PLANT CITY · 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 Brandon’s own odds, recorded at PLANT CITY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 17 | Feb 16 | Jan 17 | Nov 27 | Dec 25 | Jan 22 |
| 32°F | Mar 2 | Jan 30 | Dec 31 | Dec 8 | Jan 6 | Feb 5 |
| 28°F | Feb 10 | Jan 20 | Dec 29 | Dec 19 | Jan 11 | Feb 4 |
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 Brandon, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 28 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.
Brandon planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Brandon, FL?
Brandon's average last spring frost falls near January 30 — 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 Brandon, FL?
Expect Brandon's first fall frost near January 6 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Brandon in?
Brandon is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Brandon?
There are roughly -24 frost-free days in Brandon (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 30 to the first fall frost near January 6.
When should I plant tomatoes in Brandon?
In Brandon, start tomato seeds indoors around December 5–December 19, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 6 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Brandon
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Brandon’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Mango · 6 km
- Valrico · 7 km
- Bloomingdale · 8 km
- Palm River-Clair Mel · 8 km
- Progress Village · 8 km
- East Lake-Orient Park · 10 km
- Thonotosassa · 12 km
- Riverview · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at PLANT CITY, 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 Brandon, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00087205. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/brandon.