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When to plant in Orlando, FL

USDA Zone 10a

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Orlando, Florida — all computed from Orlando's nearest NOAA weather station.

A ~-15-day frost-free window makes Orlando 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 Orlando can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.

Station · ORLANDO INTL AP · 4.4 km
Last spring frost
January 25
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
January 10
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
-15 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for OrlandoA year-band from January to December for Orlando: Orlando is effectively frost-free at 32°F — no distinct frost season.
Orlando is effectively frost-free at 32°F — no distinct frost season.

The average last spring frost in Orlando is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

ORLANDO INTL AP · 1991–2020

The 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 Orlando’s own odds, recorded at ORLANDO INTL AP.

Frost-probability curves for OrlandoProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around January 25 and the first fall frost around January 10, where a 32°F freeze is rare enough that there is effectively no distinct frost season.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMar 9Feb 5Jan 9Dec 6Jan 1Jan 31
32°FFeb 26Jan 25Dec 30Dec 18Jan 10Feb 10
28°FFeb 9Jan 16Dec 28Dec 24Jan 13Feb 5

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19

Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.

Add the next planting windows to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Orlando, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 22 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

ORLANDO INTL AP
Primary
4 km · 27 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 25
FALL
Jan 10
ORLANDO EXECUTIVE AP
8 km · 33 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 17
FALL
Jan 13
ORLANDO W
22 km · 46 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 28
FALL
Jan 9

Orlando planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Orlando, FL?

Plan for the last spring frost in Orlando around January 25 (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 Orlando, FL?

The first fall frost in Orlando typically arrives around January 10 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Orlando in?

Orlando is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Orlando?

There are roughly -15 frost-free days in Orlando (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 25 to the first fall frost near January 10.

When should I plant tomatoes in Orlando?

In Orlando, start tomato seeds indoors around November 30–December 14, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 1 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Orlando

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Orlando’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at ORLANDO INTL AP, 4 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Orlando, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00012815. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/orlando.