When to plant in Lakeland, FL
USDA Zone 9bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Lakeland, Florida — all computed from Lakeland's nearest NOAA weather station.
With only about -17 frost-free days, Lakeland 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 Lakeland can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Lakeland is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
LAKELAND 2 · 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 Lakeland’s own odds, recorded at LAKELAND 2.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 8 | Feb 8 | Jan 11 | Dec 3 | Dec 30 | Jan 26 |
| 32°F | Feb 21 | Jan 26 | Jan 2 | Dec 20 | Jan 9 | Feb 4 |
| 28°F | Feb 5 | Jan 17 | Dec 30 | Dec 28 | Jan 13 | Feb 2 |
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 Lakeland, 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.
Lakeland planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lakeland, FL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lakeland around January 26 (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 Lakeland, FL?
The first fall frost in Lakeland typically arrives around January 9 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Lakeland in?
Lakeland is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Lakeland?
There are roughly -17 frost-free days in Lakeland (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 26 to the first fall frost near January 9.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lakeland?
In Lakeland, 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 Lakeland
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lakeland’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lakeland Highlands · 11 km
- Medulla · 11 km
- Highland City · 13 km
- Fuller Heights · 15 km
- Auburndale · 17 km
- Plant City · 17 km
- Winter Haven · 22 km
- Bartow · 23 km
Frost dates recorded at LAKELAND 2, 9 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 Lakeland, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00084802. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/lakeland.