When to plant in Palatka, FL
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Palatka, Florida — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With only about -27 frost-free days, Palatka has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 17 km from Palatka, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 9b is warm enough that Palatka can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Palatka is now 5 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
FEDERAL PT · 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 Palatka’s own odds, recorded at FEDERAL PT.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 15 | Feb 16 | Jan 19 | Nov 29 | Dec 20 | Jan 16 |
| 32°F | Feb 28 | Jan 31 | Jan 2 | Dec 7 | Jan 4 | Feb 1 |
| 28°F | Feb 19 | Jan 21 | Dec 26 | Dec 15 | Jan 12 | 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 Palatka, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 29 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.
Palatka planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Palatka, FL?
Palatka's average last spring frost falls near January 31 — 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 Palatka, FL?
The first fall frost in Palatka typically arrives around January 4 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Palatka in?
Palatka is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Palatka?
There are roughly -27 frost-free days in Palatka (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 31 to the first fall frost near January 4.
When should I plant tomatoes in Palatka?
In Palatka, start tomato seeds indoors around December 6–December 20, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 7 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Palatka
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Palatka’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Green Cove Springs · 37 km
- World Golf Village · 39 km
- Palm Coast · 43 km
- St. Augustine · 44 km
- Asbury Lake · 46 km
- Middleburg · 50 km
- Fruit Cove · 50 km
- Fleming Island · 50 km
Frost dates recorded at FEDERAL PT, 17 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 Palatka, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00082915. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/palatka.