When to plant in Cape Coral, FL
USDA Zone 10bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Cape Coral, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A ~-3-day frost-free window makes Cape Coral a short-season garden: choose early varieties and start long-season crops indoors well ahead of the last frost. In zone 10b, frost is a minor factor for Cape Coral — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average first fall frost in Cape Coral is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
FT MYERS PAGE FLD AP · 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 Coral’s own odds, recorded at FT MYERS PAGE FLD AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 15 | Jan 21 | Dec 31 | Dec 23 | Jan 12 | Feb 6 |
| 32°F | Feb 2 | Jan 16 | Jan 1 | Dec 31 | Jan 13 | Feb 2 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 20Nothing 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 Coral, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 30 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 Coral planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cape Coral, FL?
On average, the last spring frost in Cape Coral is around January 16 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Cape Coral, FL?
In Cape Coral, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around January 13 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Cape Coral in?
Cape Coral is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. In zone 10b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Cape Coral?
Cape Coral has about -3 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 16) and first fall frost (January 13).
When should I plant tomatoes in Cape Coral?
For Cape Coral, sow tomatoes indoors about November 21–December 5 and move the seedlings out around January 23, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Cape Coral
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cape Coral’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Iona · 14 km
- Cypress Lake · 15 km
- Fort Myers · 17 km
- Villas · 17 km
- North Fort Myers · 17 km
- San Carlos Park · 26 km
- Gateway · 26 km
- Punta Gorda · 29 km
Frost dates recorded at FT MYERS PAGE FLD AP, 15 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 Coral, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00012835. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/cape-coral.