When to plant in Lake City, FL
USDA Zone 9aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Lake City, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A generous ~272-day season lets Lake City gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Lake City — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average first fall frost in Lake City is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
LAKE CITY 2 E · 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 Lake City’s own odds, recorded at LAKE CITY 2 E.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 6 | Mar 18 | Feb 25 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 | Dec 5 |
| 32°F | Mar 24 | Mar 1 | Feb 5 | Nov 11 | Nov 28 | Dec 25 |
| 28°F | Mar 11 | Feb 13 | Jan 11 | Nov 21 | Dec 15 | Jan 14 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Lake City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 33 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.
Lake City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lake City, FL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lake City around March 1 (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 Lake City, FL?
In Lake City, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 28 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Lake City in?
Lake City is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Lake City?
Lake City has about 272 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 1) and first fall frost (November 28).
When should I plant tomatoes in Lake City?
For Lake City, sow tomatoes indoors about January 4–January 18 and move the seedlings out around March 8, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Lake City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lake City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Alachua · 48 km
- Gainesville · 63 km
- Middleburg · 73 km
- Oakleaf Plantation · 77 km
- Asbury Lake · 84 km
- Lakeside · 84 km
- Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace · 87 km
- Fleming Island · 90 km
Frost dates recorded at LAKE CITY 2 E, 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 Lake City, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00084731. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/lake-city.