GreenlyWhat to plant in March in Florida
Worked out for 9 cities from their own weather and frost dates, by zone.
What to sow and plant in March in Florida, by zone: frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F (Miami, Jacksonville and 6 more): tomato, bell pepper, zucchini, green beans, cucumber and 23 more; frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F (Pensacola): peas, lettuce, Swiss chard, beet, tomato and 32 more.
In Florida, March is spring.
Frost-free, highs of 72–82 °F: Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and 4 more
In March, on average, these cities have highs of 74 to 82 °F and lows of 54 to 66 °F, 1.9 to 4.4 in of rain on 7 to 10 days; the day lasts 11 h 57 min to 11 h 59 min (on the 15th).
No frost in March in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Peas, beet, parsley, cilantro, chamomile, dill | Tallahassee |
| plant sets | Onion | Miami |
| sow direct | Radish | Miami |
| set out transplants or start indoors, plant out in May | Tomato, bell pepper, chili pepper | all |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in April | Zucchini, watermelon, basil, luffa, okra, peanut | all |
| sow direct | Green Beans, sweet corn, bok choy, borage, chayote, corn, Florence fennel, kiwano | all |
| set out transplants or start indoors, plant out in April | Cucumber, melon | all |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Eggplant | Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and 4 more |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in April | Pumpkin | Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and 4 more |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Achocha | all |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Celeriac, celery | all |
| sow direct or start indoors, plant out in May | Moringa | all |
| sow direct | Napa cabbage | Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and 4 more |
| sow direct | Soybean | Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa and 4 more |
| sow direct | Arugula | Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and 3 more |
| sow direct | Mustard greens | Miami and Tallahassee |
Compared with February: no longer sown — broad bean, lettuce, carrot, cabbage, Swiss chard, kohlrabi, turnip, chickpea and 1 more.
Not starting in March: lettuce (November, sown direct) and spinach (no month outdoors by these rules) — dates for Gainesville.
Ready to harvest in March in Gainesville, if sown in the right month: broad bean (December), peas (January), lettuce (January), cabbage (November), broccoli (December), Swiss chard (January), beet (January) and parsley (January).
Frost-free, highs of 61–72 °F: Pensacola
In March, on average, Pensacola has highs of 70 °F and lows of 56 °F, 5.1 in of rain on 13 days; the day lasts 11 h 57 min (on the 15th).
No frost in March in 10 years of data: frost-tender crops can go in too, if it is warm enough for them.
| How | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| sow direct | Peas, lettuce, Swiss chard, beet, green beans, sweet corn, parsley, cilantro, arugula, bok choy, borage, chamomile, chayote, corn, dill, Florence fennel, kiwano, kohlrabi, mustard greens, Napa cabbage | Pensacola |
| start indoors, plant out in May | Tomato, bell pepper, eggplant, chili pepper, moringa | Pensacola |
| start indoors, plant out in April | Zucchini, cucumber, melon, watermelon, pumpkin, basil, achocha, luffa, okra, peanut | Pensacola |
| start indoors, plant out in June | Celeriac, celery | Pensacola |
Compared with February: new — green beans and okra; no longer sown — broad bean, onion, radish, carrot, cabbage, broccoli, chickpea, kale and 2 more.
Not starting in March: spinach (November, started indoors) — dates for Pensacola.
Ready to harvest in March in Pensacola, if sown in the right month: broad bean (December), peas (January), spinach (January), lettuce (January), radish (February), carrot (January), cabbage (November) and broccoli (December).
How we work it out
For each city we use its average weather in March and the months after (highs, lows and rain for 2016–2025, ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo) and its average frost dates. A crop starts in March if the month's mean temperature reaches the minimum soil temperature for germination on its card (we use the mean air temperature as a stand-in for the soil's) and if, over its first months (up to three), the average highs stay within its group's range, with no frost for crops that cannot take it. Crops started indoors count from the month they are planted out.
Temperature groups from Colorado State University Extension: cool-season crops prefer 60–80 °F and lose quality in heat; hardy ones grow in days as cool as 40 °F, semi-hardy ones from 40–50 °F (we use 50 °F); warm-season crops need days above 55 °F, and the most tender (tomato, pepper, eggplant, melon, watermelon, squash) above 60 °F, up to 95 °F. Crops the guide does not name go into the stricter group by their frost hardiness. Fava (broad) beans, which the guide does not name, count as hardy: hardy varieties are sown in fall and overwinter (RHS). Garlic and bulbs: a month before the first frost, and later only while the ground is not frozen (as on each city's page).
Miami follows the UF/IFAS planting months for South Florida crop by crop (fall is the main season there); the other Florida cities follow the general rule.
This is a general rule from averages: your garden can be a week or two earlier or later, and a greenhouse or a cold frame brings the season forward. Greenly works out the dates for your location.
- Moon planting calendar for March 2027
- What to plant in March: all climates
- Gardening in the United States: guide by region
Other months in Florida
- What to plant in March in the Northeast and Midwest
- What to plant in March in the South
- What to plant in March in Texas
- What to plant in March in California
- What to plant in March in the Pacific Northwest
- What to plant in March in the Southwest
- What to plant in March in the Mountain West
- What to plant in March in Canada
- What to plant in March in the UK
- What to plant in March in Ireland
