When to plant pawpaw in Florida
Florida spans USDA zones 9a–11a, so the right time to plant pawpaw shifts by weeks across the state. The window to transplant seedlings outdoors runs from about December 18 in Sarasota to February 21 in Crestview — below are local dates for 340 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Transplant out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville | 9b | February 1 | January 5 | January 4 – January 18 |
| Miami | 11a | January 18 | January 13 | December 21 – January 4 |
| Tampa | 10a | January 20 | January 12 | December 23 – January 6 |
| Orlando | 10a | January 25 | January 10 | December 28 – January 11 |
| St. Petersburg | 10b | January 17 | January 15 | December 20 – January 3 |
| Port St. Lucie | 10a | January 23 | January 18 | December 26 – January 9 |
| Hialeah | 11a | January 18 | January 13 | December 21 – January 4 |
| Cape Coral | 10b | January 16 | January 13 | December 19 – January 2 |
Pawpaw in Florida: FAQ
When can I plant pawpaw in Florida?
Across Florida, the time to transplant pawpaw spans roughly December 18 in Sarasota to February 21 in Crestview, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the pawpaw planting date vary across Florida?
Yes. Florida publishes 340 cities with their own frost dates, so the right pawpaw planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
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