When to plant in Fort Walton Beach, FL
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Fort Walton Beach, Florida — all computed from Fort Walton Beach's nearest NOAA weather station.
With about 326 frost-free days, Fort Walton Beach supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Zone 9a is warm enough that Fort Walton Beach can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Fort Walton Beach is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
DESTIN FT WALTON 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 Walton Beach’s own odds, recorded at DESTIN FT WALTON AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 16 | Feb 24 | Jan 30 | Nov 15 | Dec 9 | Jan 5 |
| 32°F | Mar 4 | Feb 5 | Jan 5 | Dec 1 | Dec 28 | Jan 27 |
| 28°F | Feb 25 | Jan 27 | Dec 27 | Dec 12 | Jan 7 | 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 Fort Walton Beach, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 34 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 Walton Beach planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fort Walton Beach, FL?
On average, the last spring frost in Fort Walton Beach is around February 5 (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 Walton Beach, FL?
In Fort Walton Beach, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 28 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Fort Walton Beach in?
Fort Walton Beach is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Fort Walton Beach?
There are roughly 326 frost-free days in Fort Walton Beach (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 5 to the first fall frost near December 28.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fort Walton Beach?
In Fort Walton Beach, start tomato seeds indoors around December 11–December 25, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 12 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Fort Walton Beach
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fort Walton Beach’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at DESTIN FT WALTON 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 Fort Walton Beach, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00053853. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/fort-walton-beach.