When to plant in Melbourne, FL
USDA Zone 10aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Melbourne, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A ~-15-day frost-free window makes Melbourne a short-season garden: choose early varieties and start long-season crops indoors well ahead of the last frost. Zone 10a is warm enough that Melbourne can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
MELBOURNE WFO · 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 Melbourne’s own odds, recorded at MELBOURNE WFO.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 9 | Feb 6 | Jan 7 | Dec 6 | Jan 2 | Feb 3 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Jan 24 | Dec 29 | Dec 20 | Jan 9 | Feb 13 |
| 28°F | Feb 8 | Jan 15 | Dec 29 | Dec 24 | Jan 10 | 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 Melbourne, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 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.
Melbourne planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Melbourne, FL?
Melbourne's average last spring frost falls near January 24 — 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 Melbourne, FL?
The first fall frost in Melbourne typically arrives around January 9 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Melbourne in?
Melbourne is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Melbourne?
There are roughly -15 frost-free days in Melbourne (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 24 to the first fall frost near January 9.
When should I plant tomatoes in Melbourne?
In Melbourne, start tomato seeds indoors around November 29–December 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 31 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Melbourne
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Melbourne’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- West Melbourne · 7 km
- Satellite Beach · 10 km
- Viera West · 17 km
- Palm Bay · 17 km
- Viera East · 18 km
- Merritt Island · 22 km
- Cocoa Beach · 25 km
- Rockledge · 25 km
Frost dates recorded at MELBOURNE WFO, 1 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 Melbourne, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00085612. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/melbourne.