Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Callaway, FL

The average first fall frost in Callaway, FL is December 24, and the average last spring frost is February 7, giving a growing season of about 318 days.

Plan your garden around Callaway, FL's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

February 7

Safe Mar 5 Typical Feb 7 Risky Jan 5

First Fall Frost

December 24

Safe Nov 23 Typical Dec 24 Risky Jan 23

Growing Season

318 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 9a

Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.

Data: NOAA station PANAMA CITY BAY CO AP, FL US, 12.7 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Callaway Compares

Callaway's typical last spring frost (Feb 7) comes later than in 83% of the 248 Florida cities we track.
Its 318-day growing season is 37 days shorter than the Florida median of 355 days.
Callaway shares its NOAA weather station with Panama City (9 km away), so their typical frost dates are the same.
July is the warmest month (average high 91°F) and January the coldest (average low 45°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	Feb 14 – Feb 21	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Nov 29 – Dec 13	—	Feb 14 – Feb 28	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Nov 29 – Dec 13	—	Feb 21 – Feb 28	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Jan 10 – Jan 17	Feb 14 – Feb 21	Feb 14 – Feb 21	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	Jan 17 – Jan 24	Feb 14 – Feb 28	Feb 14 – Feb 21	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Jan 10 – Jan 17	Feb 14 – Feb 28	Feb 14 – Feb 21	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Feb 14 – Feb 28	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Jan 10 – Jan 17	—	Feb 21 – Feb 28	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Jan 10 – Jan 17	—	Feb 21 – Feb 28	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	Feb 7 – Feb 21	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Dec 27 – Jan 10	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Oct 29 – Nov 12	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Dec 27 – Jan 10	—	Oct 29 – Nov 12	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Oct 15 – Oct 29	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Nov 12 – Nov 19	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Dec 20 – Jan 3	—	Jan 17 – Jan 24	Oct 22 – Oct 29	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Dec 20 – Jan 3	—	Jan 24 – Jan 31	Oct 15 – Oct 22	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Dec 20 – Jan 3	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	Oct 15 – Oct 29	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Dec 20 – Jan 3	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Oct 1 – Oct 15	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Oct 15 – Oct 29	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Jan 3 – Jan 17	—	Nov 12 – Nov 26	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	Oct 15 – Oct 29	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Nov 29 – Dec 13	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Nov 26 – Dec 10	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	Feb 21 – Mar 7	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Dec 27 – Jan 3	—	Feb 14 – Feb 21	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	Oct 29 – Nov 12	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	Jan 24 – Jan 31	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	Feb 7 – Feb 14	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	Feb 7 – Feb 14	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Feb 14 – Feb 28	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Jan 10 – Jan 17	Feb 14 – Feb 28	Feb 14 – Feb 21	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Dec 27 – Jan 10	—	Feb 14 – Feb 21	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Jan 10 – Jan 17	Feb 14 – Feb 28	Feb 14 – Feb 21	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Feb 14 – Feb 28	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Feb 14 – Feb 28	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Callaway, FL?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the PANAMA CITY BAY CO AP, FL US station, the last spring frost in Callaway typically falls around February 7. A cautious gardener might wait until March 5 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 5 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Callaway, FL in fall?

The first fall frost in Callaway typically arrives around December 24. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 23; in milder years it can hold off until January 23.

How long is the growing season in Callaway, FL?

Callaway's average frost-free growing season is about 318 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 7) to the typical first fall frost (December 24).

What USDA hardiness zone is Callaway, FL in?

Callaway, FL is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.