When to plant in Palmetto, FL
USDA Zone 10aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Palmetto, Florida — all computed from Palmetto's nearest NOAA weather station.
With only about -5 frost-free days, Palmetto has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Zone 10a is warm enough that Palmetto can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Palmetto is now 6 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BRADENTON 5 ESE · 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 Palmetto’s own odds, recorded at BRADENTON 5 ESE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 23 | Jan 27 | Dec 31 | Dec 11 | Jan 8 | Feb 5 |
| 32°F | Feb 9 | Jan 16 | Dec 26 | Dec 20 | Jan 11 | 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 Palmetto, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Palmetto planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Palmetto, FL?
On average, the last spring frost in Palmetto is around January 16 (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 Palmetto, FL?
Expect Palmetto's first fall frost near January 11 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Palmetto in?
Palmetto is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Palmetto?
There are roughly -5 frost-free days in Palmetto (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 16 to the first fall frost near January 11.
When should I plant tomatoes in Palmetto?
In Palmetto, start tomato seeds indoors around November 21–December 5, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 23 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Palmetto
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Palmetto’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Bradenton · 4 km
- South Bradenton · 7 km
- Bayshore Gardens · 10 km
- Sarasota · 21 km
- Lakewood Ranch · 22 km
- Fruitville · 24 km
- Ruskin · 25 km
- Sarasota Springs · 26 km
Frost dates recorded at BRADENTON 5 ESE, 11 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 Palmetto, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00080945. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/palmetto.