Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Leisure City, FL
Plan your garden around Leisure City, 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 18
Safe Feb 1
Typical Jan 18
Risky Dec 31
First Fall Frost
January 13
Safe Dec 31
Typical Jan 13
Risky Feb 1
Growing Season
365 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 11a
Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.
Data: NOAA station PERRINE 4W, FL US, 9.6 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 23 – Dec 7 | — | Jan 25 – Feb 1 | — | 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 9 – Nov 23 | — | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | — | 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 9 – Nov 23 | — | Feb 1 – Feb 8 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Dec 21 – Dec 28 | Jan 25 – Feb 1 | Jan 25 – Feb 1 | — | 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 28 – Jan 4 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Jan 25 – Feb 1 | — | 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 21 – Dec 28 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Jan 25 – Feb 1 | — | 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 25 – Feb 8 | — | — | 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 21 – Dec 28 | — | Feb 1 – Feb 8 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Dec 21 – Dec 28 | — | Feb 1 – Feb 8 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Jan 18 – Feb 1 | — | — | 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 18 – Feb 1 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Dec 7 – Dec 21 | — | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | Dec 2 – Dec 9 | 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 28 – Jan 11 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Nov 30 – Dec 14 | — | Dec 28 – Jan 4 | Nov 11 – Nov 18 | 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 30 – Dec 14 | — | Jan 4 – Jan 11 | Nov 4 – Nov 11 | 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 30 – Dec 14 | — | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Nov 30 – Dec 14 | — | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | — | 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 21 – Jan 4 | — | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | 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 21 – Jan 4 | — | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Dec 14 – Dec 28 | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | 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 21 – Jan 4 | — | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Nov 9 – Nov 23 | — | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | 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 16 – Dec 30 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | — | 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 1 – Feb 15 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Dec 21 – Jan 4 | — | 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 7 – Dec 14 | — | Jan 25 – Feb 1 | — | 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 28 – Jan 11 | — | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | — | Jan 4 – Jan 11 | — | 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 28 – Jan 11 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | — | Jan 18 – Jan 25 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Nov 23 – Dec 7 | — | Jan 18 – Jan 25 | — | 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 25 – Feb 8 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Dec 21 – Dec 28 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Jan 25 – Feb 1 | — | 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 7 – Dec 21 | — | Jan 25 – Feb 1 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Dec 21 – Dec 28 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Jan 25 – Feb 1 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | — | 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 Leisure City, FL?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the PERRINE 4W, FL US station, the last spring frost in Leisure City typically falls around January 18. A cautious gardener might wait until February 1 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while December 31 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Leisure City, FL in fall?
The first fall frost in Leisure City typically arrives around January 13. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as December 31; in milder years it can hold off until February 1.
How long is the growing season in Leisure City, FL?
Leisure City's average frost-free growing season is about 365 days, running from the typical last spring frost (January 18) to the typical first fall frost (January 13).
What USDA hardiness zone is Leisure City, FL in?
Leisure City, FL is in USDA plant hardiness zone 11a, 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.