When to plant in Lake Mary, FL
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Lake Mary, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With only about -14 frost-free days, Lake Mary 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 Lake Mary can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Lake Mary is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SANFORD · 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 Mary’s own odds, recorded at SANFORD.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 6 | Feb 4 | Jan 8 | Dec 9 | Jan 6 | Feb 6 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Jan 26 | Dec 31 | Dec 20 | Jan 12 | Feb 10 |
| 28°F | Feb 6 | Jan 13 | Dec 25 | Dec 19 | Jan 11 | Feb 5 |
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 Lake Mary, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 20 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 Mary planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lake Mary, FL?
Lake Mary's average last spring frost falls near January 26 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Lake Mary, FL?
The first fall frost in Lake Mary typically arrives around January 12 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Lake Mary in?
Lake Mary is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Lake Mary?
There are roughly -14 frost-free days in Lake Mary (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 26 to the first fall frost near January 12.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lake Mary?
In Lake Mary, start tomato seeds indoors around December 1–December 15, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 2 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Lake Mary
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lake Mary’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Longwood · 7 km
- Sanford · 7 km
- Winter Springs · 10 km
- Casselberry · 11 km
- Wekiwa Springs · 11 km
- Altamonte Springs · 12 km
- DeBary · 14 km
- Maitland · 15 km
Frost dates recorded at SANFORD, 8 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 Mary, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00087982. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/lake-mary.