Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Fort Walton Beach, FL
Plan your garden around Fort Walton Beach, 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 5
Safe Mar 4
Typical Feb 5
Risky Jan 5
First Fall Frost
December 28
Safe Dec 1
Typical Dec 28
Risky Jan 27
Growing Season
321 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 DESTIN FT WALTON AP, FL US, 14.1 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | — | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | — | 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 27 – Dec 11 | — | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | 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 27 – Dec 11 | — | Feb 19 – Feb 26 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Jan 8 – Jan 15 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | — | 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 15 – Jan 22 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | — | 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 8 – Jan 15 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | — | 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 12 – Feb 26 | — | — | 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 8 – Jan 15 | — | Feb 19 – Feb 26 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Jan 8 – Jan 15 | — | Feb 19 – Feb 26 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Feb 5 – Feb 19 | — | — | 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 5 – Feb 19 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Dec 25 – Jan 8 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | — | Nov 2 – Nov 16 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Dec 25 – Jan 8 | — | Nov 2 – Nov 16 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | — | Oct 19 – Nov 2 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | — | Nov 16 – Nov 23 | 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 15 – Jan 29 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | — | Jan 15 – Jan 22 | Oct 26 – Nov 2 | 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 18 – Jan 1 | — | Jan 22 – Jan 29 | Oct 19 – Oct 26 | 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 18 – Jan 1 | — | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | Oct 19 – Nov 2 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | — | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | — | 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 8 – Jan 22 | — | Oct 5 – Oct 19 | 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 8 – Jan 22 | — | Oct 19 – Nov 2 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | — | Nov 16 – Nov 30 | 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 8 – Jan 22 | — | Oct 19 – Nov 2 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | — | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | — | 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 30 – Dec 14 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | — | — | 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 19 – Mar 5 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Jan 8 – Jan 22 | — | 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. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Dec 25 – Jan 1 | — | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | — | 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 15 – Jan 29 | — | Nov 2 – Nov 16 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | — | Jan 22 – Jan 29 | — | 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 15 – Jan 29 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | — | Feb 5 – Feb 12 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | — | Feb 5 – Feb 12 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Jan 8 – Jan 15 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | — | 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 25 – Jan 8 | — | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Jan 8 – Jan 15 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | 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 Fort Walton Beach, FL?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the DESTIN FT WALTON AP, FL US station, the last spring frost in Fort Walton Beach typically falls around February 5. A cautious gardener might wait until March 4 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 5 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Fort Walton Beach, FL in fall?
The first fall frost in Fort Walton Beach typically arrives around December 28. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as December 1; in milder years it can hold off until January 27.
How long is the growing season in Fort Walton Beach, FL?
Fort Walton Beach's average frost-free growing season is about 321 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 5) to the typical first fall frost (December 28).
What USDA hardiness zone is Fort Walton Beach, FL in?
Fort Walton Beach, 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.