When to plant in Tampa, FL
USDA Zone 10aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Tampa, Florida — all computed from Tampa's nearest NOAA weather station.
With only about -8 frost-free days, Tampa 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 Tampa can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Tampa is now 8 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
TAMPA INTL AP · 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 Tampa’s own odds, recorded at TAMPA INTL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 23 | Jan 29 | Dec 31 | Dec 14 | Jan 8 | Feb 8 |
| 32°F | Feb 10 | Jan 20 | Dec 27 | Dec 23 | Jan 12 | 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 Tampa, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 27 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.
Tampa planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Tampa, FL?
Plan for the last spring frost in Tampa around January 20 (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 Tampa, FL?
The first fall frost in Tampa typically arrives around January 12 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Tampa in?
Tampa is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Tampa?
There are roughly -8 frost-free days in Tampa (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 20 to the first fall frost near January 12.
When should I plant tomatoes in Tampa?
In Tampa, start tomato seeds indoors around November 25–December 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 27 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Tampa
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Tampa’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Egypt Lake-Leto · 6 km
- Carrollwood · 10 km
- Town 'n' Country · 11 km
- Palm River-Clair Mel · 11 km
- East Lake-Orient Park · 12 km
- Lake Magdalene · 12 km
- University · 13 km
- Temple Terrace · 13 km
Frost dates recorded at TAMPA INTL AP, 6 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 Tampa, FL — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00012842. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/florida/tampa.