When to plant in Key Largo, FL
USDA Zone 11aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Key Largo, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With only about -3 frost-free days, Key Largo 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 35 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Key Largo (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 11a is warm enough that Key Largo can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
ROYAL PALM RS · 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 Key Largo’s own odds, recorded at ROYAL PALM RS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 3 | Jan 28 | Jan 1 | Dec 25 | Jan 16 | Feb 21 |
| 32°F | Feb 18 | Jan 20 | Jan 1 | Dec 29 | Jan 17 | Feb 17 |
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 Key Largo, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Key Largo planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Key Largo, FL?
On average, the last spring frost in Key Largo is around January 20 (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 Key Largo, FL?
Expect Key Largo's first fall frost near January 17 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Key Largo in?
Key Largo is in USDA hardiness zone 11a. In zone 11a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Key Largo?
There are roughly -3 frost-free days in Key Largo (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 20 to the first fall frost near January 17.
When should I plant tomatoes in Key Largo?
In Key Largo, start tomato seeds indoors around November 25–December 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 27 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Key Largo
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Key Largo’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Florida City · 36 km
- Homestead · 38 km
- Leisure City · 41 km
- Naranja · 44 km
- Princeton · 47 km
- Goulds · 49 km
- Cutler Bay · 51 km
- South Miami Heights · 52 km
Frost dates recorded at ROYAL PALM RS, 35 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 Key Largo, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 11a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00087760. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/key-largo.