Tallahassee, FL planting zone & frost dates
Tallahassee is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost usually comes around March 11 and the first fall frost around November 21, for a growing season of about 255 days.
Planting calendar for Tallahassee
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (March 11) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Jan 14 – Jan 28 Transplant outdoors: Mar 18 – Mar 25 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Dec 31 – Jan 14 Transplant outdoors: Mar 25 – Apr 1 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Dec 31 – Jan 14 Transplant outdoors: Mar 25 – Apr 1 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Dec 31 – Jan 14 Transplant outdoors: Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Dec 31 – Jan 14 Transplant outdoors: Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Feb 11 – Feb 25 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Mar 18 – Mar 25 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 18 – Mar 25 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Mar 18 – Mar 25 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Mar 18 – Mar 25 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 Transplant outdoors: Mar 18 – Mar 25 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Sep 26 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 21).
Useful for zone 9a gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Shade cloth — for hot summers
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Feb 18 | Mar 11 | Mar 30 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Dec 14 | Nov 21 | Nov 3 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after March 30, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 3. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around February 25.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Tallahassee
- 32301 zone 9a
- 32302 zone 9a
- 32303 zone 9a
- 32304 zone 9a
- 32305 zone 9a
- 32306 zone 9a
- 32307 zone 9a
- 32308 zone 9a
- 32309 zone 9a
- 32310 zone 9a
- 32311 zone 9a
- 32312 zone 9a
- 32313 zone 9a
- 32314 zone 9a
- 32315 zone 9a
- 32316 zone 9a
- 32317 zone 9a
- 32318 zone 9a
- 32399 zone 9a
Nearby cities
- Callaway zone 9b, last frost Feb 7
- Lynn Haven zone 9a, last frost Feb 15
- Panama City zone 9b, last frost Feb 7
- Upper Grand Lagoon zone 9b, last frost Feb 7
- Panama City Beach zone 9b, last frost Feb 7
- Lake City zone 9a, last frost Mar 1
- Santa Rosa Beach zone 9a, last frost Feb 5
- Gainesville zone 9a, last frost Mar 3
Questions
What growing zone is Tallahassee, FL?
Tallahassee is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9a (average extreme winter low 20°F to 25°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Tallahassee?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Tallahassee is March 11. There is still a 10% chance of frost until March 30.
When can I plant tomatoes in Tallahassee?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Mar 18 – Mar 25. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Tallahassee, FL (USW00093805), 6.5 km (4.0 mi) from the city center, elevation 19 m, based on 30 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.