When to plant in Marco Island, FL
USDA Zone 10bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Marco Island, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With only about -7 frost-free days, Marco Island 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 26 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around Marco Island (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 10b is warm enough that Marco Island can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Marco Island is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
NAPLES · 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 Marco Island’s own odds, recorded at NAPLES.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 2 | Jan 31 | Jan 3 | Dec 19 | Jan 10 | Feb 8 |
| 32°F | Feb 16 | Jan 18 | Dec 31 | Dec 27 | Jan 11 | Feb 7 |
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 Marco Island, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 39 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.
Marco Island planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Marco Island, FL?
Marco Island's average last spring frost falls near January 18 — 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 Marco Island, FL?
In Marco Island, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around January 11 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Marco Island in?
Marco Island is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. In zone 10b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Marco Island?
There are roughly -7 frost-free days in Marco Island (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 18 to the first fall frost near January 11.
When should I plant tomatoes in Marco Island?
In Marco Island, start tomato seeds indoors around November 23–December 7, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 25 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Marco Island
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Marco Island’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Naples · 26 km
- Golden Gate · 28 km
- Bonita Springs · 48 km
- Estero · 56 km
- Immokalee · 62 km
- San Carlos Park · 62 km
- Iona · 70 km
- Villas · 70 km
Frost dates recorded at NAPLES, 26 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 Marco Island, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00086078. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/marco-island.