Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Lehigh Acres, FL
Plan your garden around Lehigh Acres, FL's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
January 17
Safe Feb 6
Typical Jan 17
Risky Jan 6
First Fall Frost
January 16
Safe Jan 4
Typical Jan 16
Risky Feb 5
Growing Season
365 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 10a
Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.
Data: NOAA station FT MYERS SW FL RGNL AP, FL US, 16.3 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 | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | — | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | — | 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 8 – Nov 22 | — | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | 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 8 – Nov 22 | — | Jan 31 – Feb 7 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Dec 20 – Dec 27 | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | — | 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 | Dec 27 – Jan 3 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | — | 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 | Dec 20 – Dec 27 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | — | 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 | Dec 20 – Dec 27 | — | Jan 31 – Feb 7 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Dec 20 – Dec 27 | — | Jan 31 – Feb 7 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | — | 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 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | — | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Dec 5 – Dec 12 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | — | Dec 27 – Jan 3 | Nov 14 – Nov 21 | 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 | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | — | Jan 3 – Jan 10 | Nov 7 – Nov 14 | 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 | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | — | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | — | 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 | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | — | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Nov 8 – Nov 22 | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | 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 | — | — | — | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | — | 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 | — | — | Jan 31 – Feb 14 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | 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 6 – Dec 13 | — | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | — | 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 | — | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | — | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | — | Jan 3 – Jan 10 | — | 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 | — | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | — | 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 | — | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Dec 20 – Dec 27 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | — | 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 6 – Dec 20 | — | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Dec 20 – Dec 27 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | 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 Lehigh Acres, FL?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the FT MYERS SW FL RGNL AP, FL US station, the last spring frost in Lehigh Acres typically falls around January 17. A cautious gardener might wait until February 6 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 6 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Lehigh Acres, FL in fall?
The first fall frost in Lehigh Acres typically arrives around January 16. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as January 4; in milder years it can hold off until February 5.
How long is the growing season in Lehigh Acres, FL?
Lehigh Acres's average frost-free growing season is about 365 days, running from the typical last spring frost (January 17) to the typical first fall frost (January 16).
What USDA hardiness zone is Lehigh Acres, FL in?
Lehigh Acres, FL is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10a, 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.