Greenly Garden

Last and first frost dates in Orlando

United States

In Orlando the last spring frost usually comes around 18 January and the first autumn frost around 25 December, which leaves about 341 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 25 January to 4 September.

Last spring frostaround 18 January
First autumn frostaround 25 December
Frost-free days341 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 10a

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 Orlando?

The last frost in Orlando usually comes around 18 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 28 December, while corn waits until 25 January. The first autumn frost follows around 25 December, about 341 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha25 November – 16 September4 January – 26 October25 January – 26 October
Ageratumfrom 9 November—from 25 January
Arugula——sow 28 December – 20 November
Basil27 November – 23 October4 January – 30 November25 January – 30 November
Beet——sow 28 December – 26 October
Bell Pepper5 November – 6 July4 January – 4 September25 January – 4 September
Black-eyed Susanfrom 3 November—from 25 January
Bok Choy30 November – 3 November4 January – 8 December25 January – 8 December
Borage——sow 25 January – 31 October
Broad bean——sow 28 December – 16 September
Broccoli——sow 28 December – 9 September
Brussels Sprouts23 October – 7 August7 December – 21 September28 December – 21 September
Busy Lizziefrom 2 November—from 25 January
Cabbage——sow 28 December – 17 August
Calendula——sow from 28 December
Carrot——sow 28 December – 2 October
Cauliflower26 October – 9 September7 December – 21 October28 December – 21 October
Celeriac19 October – 7 July4 January – 22 September25 January – 22 September
Celery19 October – 17 July4 January – 2 October25 January – 2 October
Celosiafrom 20 Novemberfrom 4 Januaryfrom 25 January
Chamomile——sow 28 December – 21 October
Chayote8 October – 30 June4 January – 26 September25 January – 26 September
Chickpea——sow 28 December – 6 September
Chicory12 November – 1 October—28 December – 26 October
Chili Pepper5 November – 12 August4 January – 11 October25 January – 11 October
China asterfrom 13 Novemberfrom 4 Januaryfrom 25 January
Chives——sow 28 December – 12 October
Cilantro——sow 28 December – 22 October
Corn——sow 25 January – 6 September
Corn poppy——sow from 28 December
Cosmosfrom 20 Novemberfrom 4 Januaryfrom 25 January
Cucumber7 December – 12 September4 January – 10 October25 January – 10 October
Daikon——sow 28 December – 19 October
Delphiniumfrom 9 October—from 28 December
Dill——sow 28 December – 1 November
Edging lobeliafrom 2 November—from 25 January
Eggplant5 November – 6 July4 January – 4 September25 January – 4 September
Florence fennel20 November – 16 September4 January – 31 October25 January – 31 October
Foxglovefrom 21 September—from 28 December
Garden sorrel——sow 28 December – 20 October
Green Beans——sow 25 January – 14 September
Hollyhock——sow from 28 December
Hyssop——sow 28 December – 12 September
Kale——sow 28 December – 14 October
Kiwano3 December – 19 September4 January – 21 October25 January – 21 October
Kohlrabi——sow 28 December – 24 October
Leek28 September – 28 June7 December – 6 September28 December – 6 September
Lemon balm——sow 28 December – 16 October
Lettuce——sow 28 December – 29 October
Lisianthusfrom 11 Septemberfrom 7 Decemberfrom 28 December
Lovage——sow from 28 December
Luffa23 November – 14 July4 January – 25 August25 January – 25 August
Marigoldfrom 23 Novemberfrom 4 Januaryfrom 25 January
Marjoram5 November – 1 October—25 January – 30 November
Melon7 December – 30 August4 January – 27 September25 January – 27 September
Microgreens——sow 25 January – 11 December
Moringa25 November – 6 October19 January – 30 November9 February – 30 November
Moss rosefrom 9 November—from 25 January
Mustard greens——sow 28 December – 10 November
Napa cabbage2 December – 11 October4 January – 13 November25 January – 13 November
Nasturtiumfrom 27 Novemberfrom 4 Januaryfrom 25 January
Okra23 November – 24 September4 January – 5 November25 January – 5 November
Oregano8 October – 21 September7 December – 20 November28 December – 20 November
Pansyfrom 12 Octoberfrom 7 Decemberfrom 28 December
Parsley——sow 28 December – 10 October
Parsnip——sow 28 December – 29 August
Peanut28 November – 20 August4 January – 26 September25 January – 26 September
Peas——sow 28 December – 12 October
Petuniafrom 2 Novemberfrom 4 Januaryfrom 25 January
Physalis20 November – 17 August4 January – 1 October25 January – 1 October
Pumpkin23 November – 19 July4 January – 30 August25 January – 30 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 6 October—from 28 December
Radish——sow 28 December – 25 November
Sage19 October – 17 September7 December – 5 November28 December – 5 November
Scarlet sagefrom 13 November—from 25 January
Snapdragonfrom 3 Octoberfrom 7 Decemberfrom 28 December
Soybean——sow 25 January – 6 October
Spinach——sow 28 December – 31 October
Stevia16 November – 8 August4 January – 26 September25 January – 26 September
Stock——sow from 28 December
Sunflower——sow from 25 January
Sweet alyssum——sow from 28 December
Sweet Corn13 December – 1 October4 January – 23 October25 January – 23 October
Sweet peafrom 26 Octoberfrom 7 Decemberfrom 28 December
Sweet William——sow from 28 December
Swiss Chard——sow 28 December – 26 October
Thyme——sow 28 December – 6 September
Tomato13 November – 14 July4 January – 4 September25 January – 4 September
Turnip——sow 28 December – 28 October
Watercress——sow 28 December – 8 November
Watermelon7 December – 18 August4 January – 15 September25 January – 15 September
Zinniafrom 15 Decemberfrom 19 Januaryfrom 9 February
Zucchini14 December – 17 September4 January – 8 October25 January – 8 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.

What planting zone is Orlando?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Orlando (ZIP 32801) in zone 10a. Zone 10a stands for an average coldest night of 30 to 35 °F (-1.1 to 1.7 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 10a or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Orlando: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Orlando

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 °Calready in the first week of January—
18 °C10 January8 days earlier

Frost dates near Orlando

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

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Tampa124 km18 January24 December
St. Petersburg150 km18 January—
Gainesville154 km22 January24 December
Jacksonville201 km23 January27 December
Fort Myers219 km——

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Orlando

Within 15 km of Orlando OpenStreetMap lists 2 garden centres, 2 plant nurseries and 1 market (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest plant nursery to the city centre is Green Acres Nursery, 14 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Orlando

Frosts in Orlando usually come from about 25 December to about 18 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 Orlando by month

Average weather in Orlando over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: January–December (20.7–31.4 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: May–August (30.7–31.4 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 11.1 °C. About 1664 mm of rain falls in a year, on 169 days; August is the wettest month (277 mm) and February the driest (56 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January20.711.1707
February24.214568
March26.515.3597
April28.417.6779
May30.720.513413
June3123.123923
July31.424.123126
August31.224.227726
September29.923.126422
October27.720.311713
November24.616.1718
December22.513.6697

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 25 November
Crocusby 25 November
Daffodilby 25 November
Garlicby 25 November
Grape hyacinthby 25 November
Helleboreby 25 November
Hyacinthby 25 November
Lilyby 25 November
Ornamental onionby 25 November
Peonyby 25 November
Saffronby 25 November
Snowdropby 25 November
Tulipby 25 November
Wild garlicby 25 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).