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Last and first frost dates in Gainesville

United States

In Gainesville the last spring frost usually comes around 22 January and the first autumn frost around 24 December, which leaves about 336 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 29 January to 3 September.

Last spring frostaround 22 January
First autumn frostaround 24 December
Frost-free days336 days

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Gainesville?

The last frost in Gainesville usually comes around 22 January: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 1 January, while corn waits until 29 January. The first autumn frost follows around 24 December, about 336 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha29 November – 15 September8 January – 25 October29 January – 25 October
Ageratumfrom 13 November—from 29 January
Arugula——sow 1 January – 19 November
Basil21 December – 22 October28 January – 29 November18 February – 29 November
Beet——sow 1 January – 25 October
Bell Pepper29 November – 5 July28 January – 3 September18 February – 3 September
Black-eyed Susanfrom 7 November—from 29 January
Bok Choy4 December – 2 November8 January – 7 December29 January – 7 December
Borage——sow 29 January – 30 October
Broad bean——sow 1 January – 15 September
Broccoli——sow 1 January – 8 September
Brussels Sprouts27 October – 6 August11 December – 20 September1 January – 20 September
Busy Lizziefrom 6 November—from 29 January
Cabbage——sow 1 January – 16 August
Calendula——sow from 1 January
Carrot——sow 1 January – 1 October
Cauliflower30 October – 8 September11 December – 20 October1 January – 20 October
Celeriac23 October – 6 July8 January – 21 September29 January – 21 September
Celery23 October – 16 July8 January – 1 October29 January – 1 October
Celosiafrom 24 Novemberfrom 8 Januaryfrom 29 January
Chamomile——sow 1 January – 20 October
Chayote12 October – 29 June8 January – 25 September29 January – 25 September
Chickpea——sow 1 January – 5 September
Chicory16 November – 30 September—1 January – 25 October
Chili Pepper29 November – 11 August28 January – 10 October18 February – 10 October
China asterfrom 7 Decemberfrom 28 Januaryfrom 18 February
Chives——sow 1 January – 11 October
Cilantro——sow 1 January – 21 October
Corn——sow 29 January – 5 September
Corn poppy——sow from 1 January
Cosmosfrom 24 Novemberfrom 8 Januaryfrom 29 January
Cucumber31 December – 11 September28 January – 9 October18 February – 9 October
Daikon——sow 1 January – 18 October
Delphiniumfrom 13 October—from 1 January
Dill——sow 1 January – 31 October
Edging lobeliafrom 6 November—from 29 January
Eggplant29 November – 5 July28 January – 3 September18 February – 3 September
Florence fennel24 November – 15 September8 January – 30 October29 January – 30 October
Foxglovefrom 25 September—from 1 January
Garden sorrel——sow 1 January – 19 October
Green Beans——sow 29 January – 13 September
Hollyhock——sow from 1 January
Hyssop——sow 1 January – 11 September
Kale——sow 1 January – 13 October
Kiwano7 December – 18 September8 January – 20 October29 January – 20 October
Kohlrabi——sow 1 January – 23 October
Leek2 October – 27 June11 December – 5 September1 January – 5 September
Lemon balm——sow 1 January – 15 October
Lettuce——sow 1 January – 28 October
Lisianthusfrom 15 Septemberfrom 11 Decemberfrom 1 January
Lovage——sow from 1 January
Luffa17 December – 13 July28 January – 24 August18 February – 24 August
Marigoldfrom 27 Novemberfrom 8 Januaryfrom 29 January
Marjoram29 November – 30 September—18 February – 29 November
Melon31 December – 29 August28 January – 26 September18 February – 26 September
Microgreens——sow 29 January – 10 December
Moringa21 December – 5 October14 February – 29 November7 March – 29 November
Moss rosefrom 13 November—from 29 January
Mustard greens——sow 1 January – 9 November
Napa cabbage6 December – 10 October8 January – 12 November29 January – 12 November
Nasturtiumfrom 1 Decemberfrom 8 Januaryfrom 29 January
Okra17 December – 23 September28 January – 4 November18 February – 4 November
Oregano12 October – 20 September11 December – 19 November1 January – 19 November
Pansyfrom 16 Octoberfrom 11 Decemberfrom 1 January
Parsley——sow 1 January – 9 October
Parsnip——sow 1 January – 28 August
Peanut22 December – 19 August28 January – 25 September18 February – 25 September
Peas——sow 1 January – 11 October
Petuniafrom 26 Novemberfrom 28 Januaryfrom 18 February
Physalis24 November – 16 August8 January – 30 September29 January – 30 September
Pumpkin17 December – 18 July28 January – 29 August18 February – 29 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 10 October—from 1 January
Radish——sow 1 January – 24 November
Sage23 October – 16 September11 December – 4 November1 January – 4 November
Scarlet sagefrom 17 November—from 29 January
Snapdragonfrom 7 Octoberfrom 11 Decemberfrom 1 January
Soybean——sow 18 February – 5 October
Spinach——sow 1 January – 30 October
Stevia20 November – 7 August8 January – 25 September29 January – 25 September
Stock——sow from 1 January
Sunflower——sow from 29 January
Sweet alyssum——sow from 1 January
Sweet Corn17 December – 30 September8 January – 22 October29 January – 22 October
Sweet peafrom 30 Octoberfrom 11 Decemberfrom 1 January
Sweet William——sow from 1 January
Swiss Chard——sow 1 January – 25 October
Thyme——sow 1 January – 5 September
Tomato17 November – 13 July8 January – 3 September29 January – 3 September
Turnip——sow 1 January – 27 October
Watercress——sow 1 January – 7 November
Watermelon31 December – 17 August28 January – 14 September18 February – 14 September
Zinniafrom 10 Januaryfrom 14 Februaryfrom 7 March
Zucchini7 January – 16 September28 January – 7 October18 February – 7 October

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

When the soil warms up in Gainesville

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo).

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °Calready in the first week of January—
15 °C10 January12 days earlier
18 °C18 February27 days later

Frost dates near Gainesville

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Orlando (18 January) and latest in Jacksonville (23 January).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Jacksonville99 km23 January27 December
Orlando154 km18 January25 December
Tampa189 km18 January24 December
St. Petersburg206 km18 January—
Tallahassee207 km22 January23 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Gainesville

Within 15 km of Gainesville OpenStreetMap lists 1 garden centre, 1 plant nursery and 4 markets (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Garden Gate Nursery, 6 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Gainesville

Frosts in Gainesville usually come from about 24 December to about 22 January. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Gainesville by month

Average weather in Gainesville over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: February–December (20.8–32.6 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: May–September (30.7–32.6 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 8.3 °C. About 1224 mm of rain falls in a year, on 148 days; August is the wettest month (191 mm) and November the driest (56 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January18.88.3628
February22.611.5608
March24.813738
April27.615.7768
May30.7198510
June3222.316219
July32.623.318723
August32.123.319124
September30.721.914418
October27.718.2659
November23.613.4566
December20.810.7637

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 24 November
Crocusby 24 November
Daffodilby 24 November
Garlicby 24 November
Grape hyacinthby 24 November
Helleboreby 24 November
Hyacinthby 24 November
Lilyby 24 November
Ornamental onionby 24 November
Peonyby 24 November
Saffronby 24 November
Snowdropby 24 November
Tulipby 24 November
Wild garlicby 24 November

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).