When to plant in Jacksonville, FL
USDA Zone 9bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Jacksonville, Florida — all computed from Jacksonville's nearest NOAA weather station.
With only about -27 frost-free days, Jacksonville has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Zone 9b is warm enough that Jacksonville can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Jacksonville is now 15 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
JACKSONVILLE NAS · 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 Jacksonville’s own odds, recorded at JACKSONVILLE NAS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 15 | Feb 18 | Jan 20 | Nov 20 | Dec 17 | Jan 22 |
| 32°F | Mar 3 | Feb 1 | Dec 31 | Dec 3 | Jan 5 | Feb 6 |
| 28°F | Feb 19 | Jan 22 | Dec 28 | Dec 19 | Jan 14 | Feb 12 |
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 Jacksonville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 17 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.
Jacksonville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Jacksonville, FL?
On average, the last spring frost in Jacksonville is around February 1 (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 Jacksonville, FL?
Expect Jacksonville's first fall frost near January 5 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Jacksonville in?
Jacksonville is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Jacksonville?
There are roughly -27 frost-free days in Jacksonville (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around February 1 to the first fall frost near January 5.
When should I plant tomatoes in Jacksonville?
In Jacksonville, start tomato seeds indoors around December 7–December 21, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 8 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Jacksonville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Jacksonville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace · 19 km
- Lakeside · 25 km
- Oakleaf Plantation · 25 km
- Atlantic Beach · 25 km
- Fleming Island · 27 km
- Fruit Cove · 27 km
- Jacksonville Beach · 27 km
- Palm Valley · 30 km
Frost dates recorded at JACKSONVILLE NAS, 12 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 Jacksonville, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093837. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/jacksonville.