When to plant in Fort Myers, FL
USDA Zone 10bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Fort Myers, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Fort Myers's growing season is short at roughly -3 days, so succession planting is limited; lean on transplants over direct sowing for anything slow to mature. Zone 10b is warm enough that Fort Myers can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Fort Myers 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 Fort Myers’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 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 Myers, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 37 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.
Fort Myers planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fort Myers, FL?
On average, the last spring frost in Fort Myers 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 Fort Myers, FL?
Expect Fort Myers's first fall frost near January 13 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Fort Myers in?
Fort Myers is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. In zone 10b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Fort Myers?
There are roughly -3 frost-free days in Fort Myers (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 16 to the first fall frost near January 13.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fort Myers?
In Fort Myers, start tomato seeds indoors around November 21–December 5, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 23 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fort Myers
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fort Myers’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Villas · 9 km
- Gateway · 9 km
- Cypress Lake · 11 km
- North Fort Myers · 11 km
- San Carlos Park · 16 km
- Cape Coral · 17 km
- Iona · 17 km
- Lehigh Acres · 19 km
Frost dates recorded at FT MYERS PAGE FLD AP, 5 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 Myers, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00012835. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/fort-myers.