When to plant in Fort Lauderdale, FL
USDA Zone 11aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fort Lauderdale, Florida — all computed from Fort Lauderdale's nearest NOAA weather station.
With only about -5 frost-free days, Fort Lauderdale has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. These dates come from a station roughly 40 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Fort Lauderdale (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 11a is warm enough that Fort Lauderdale 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 Fort Lauderdale’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 Fort Lauderdale, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Fort Lauderdale planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fort Lauderdale, FL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Fort Lauderdale around January 22 (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 Fort Lauderdale, FL?
The first fall frost in Fort Lauderdale typically arrives around January 17 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Fort Lauderdale in?
Fort Lauderdale is in USDA hardiness zone 11a. In zone 11a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Fort Lauderdale?
There are roughly -5 frost-free days in Fort Lauderdale (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 Fort Lauderdale?
In Fort Lauderdale, 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 Fort Lauderdale
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fort Lauderdale’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Wilton Manors · 2 km
- Oakland Park · 4 km
- Lauderdale Lakes · 6 km
- Lauderhill · 8 km
- Dania Beach · 10 km
- North Lauderdale · 11 km
- Pompano Beach · 11 km
- Plantation · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at LOXAHATCHEE NWR, 40 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 Fort Lauderdale, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 11a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00085184. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/fort-lauderdale.