When to plant in Cape Canaveral, FL
USDA Zone 10aCape Canaveral, Florida frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Cape Canaveral's growing season is short at roughly -13 days, so succession planting is limited; lean on transplants over direct sowing for anything slow to mature. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 26 km from Cape Canaveral, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 10a is warm enough that Cape Canaveral can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
TITUSVILLE 7 E · 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 Cape Canaveral’s own odds, recorded at TITUSVILLE 7 E.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 11 | Feb 10 | Jan 12 | Dec 17 | Jan 8 | Feb 9 |
| 32°F | Feb 26 | Jan 29 | Jan 4 | Dec 29 | Jan 16 | Feb 17 |
| 28°F | Feb 7 | Jan 17 | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | Jan 13 | 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 Cape Canaveral, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 33 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.
Cape Canaveral planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cape Canaveral, FL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Cape Canaveral around January 29 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Cape Canaveral, FL?
The first fall frost in Cape Canaveral typically arrives around January 16 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Cape Canaveral in?
Cape Canaveral is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Cape Canaveral?
There are roughly -13 frost-free days in Cape Canaveral (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 29 to the first fall frost near January 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cape Canaveral?
In Cape Canaveral, start tomato seeds indoors around December 4–December 18, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 5 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Cape Canaveral
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cape Canaveral’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Cocoa Beach · 7 km
- Merritt Island · 12 km
- Rockledge · 15 km
- Cocoa · 16 km
- Viera East · 18 km
- Viera West · 21 km
- Port St. John · 22 km
- Satellite Beach · 24 km
Frost dates recorded at TITUSVILLE 7 E, 26 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 Cape Canaveral, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00092821. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/cape-canaveral.