When to plant in Merritt Island, FL
USDA Zone 10aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Merritt Island, Florida — all computed from Merritt Island's nearest NOAA weather station.
A ~-15-day frost-free window makes Merritt Island a short-season garden: choose early varieties and start long-season crops indoors well ahead of the last frost. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 22 km from Merritt Island, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 10a is warm enough that Merritt Island 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 Merritt Island’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 Merritt Island, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 31 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.
Merritt Island planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Merritt Island, FL?
On average, the last spring frost in Merritt Island is around January 24 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Merritt Island, FL?
Expect Merritt Island's first fall frost near January 9 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Merritt Island in?
Merritt Island is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Merritt Island?
There are roughly -15 frost-free days in Merritt Island (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 Merritt Island?
In Merritt Island, 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 Merritt Island
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Merritt Island’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Cocoa Beach · 5 km
- Rockledge · 6 km
- Viera East · 6 km
- Viera West · 10 km
- Cocoa · 11 km
- Cape Canaveral · 12 km
- Satellite Beach · 16 km
- Melbourne · 22 km
Frost dates recorded at MELBOURNE WFO, 22 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 Merritt Island, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00085612. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/merritt-island.