Frost dates · USDA zone 9b
Frost dates for Jacksonville, FL
Jacksonville, FL sees its last 32 °F night of spring around February 1 and its first of fall around January 5 (next year) — a 330-day freeze-free season in a typical year.
Pick a sauce; the Plan Builder runs this station's dates and hands back the calendar, plant count and gear list.
Freeze odds, by date
| Odds | Last spring freeze after | First fall freeze before |
|---|---|---|
| 9 years in 10 | Dec 31 (prior winter) | Feb 6 (next year) |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Feb 1 | Jan 5 (next year) |
| 1 year in 10 | Mar 3 | Dec 3 |
The top row is the risky edge: in 9 years of 10 a spring freeze still comes after it, so tender transplants set out then need cover. The bottom row is the cautious date — only 1 year in 10 freezes after it — and the one to plan uncovered tender transplants against. Freeze-free season: 330 days median, at least 299 in 9 years of 10, no freeze at all in 1 year of 10. NOAA ranks season length year by year, so it is not the gap between two rows above. A hard freeze (28 °F) has a median last date of Jan 22 and first of Jan 14 (next year).
Jacksonville planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Feb 1) and median first frost (Jan 5) above, using each cultivar's days to maturity. Same engine as the Plan Builder.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant | First harvest | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardneck GarlicSiberian (porcelain hardneck) | — | Oct 15prior fall | Jun 12 | 240 from sow |
| Spanish OnionYellow Sweet Spanish (long-day) | Nov 9 | Jan 4 | Apr 24 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Feb 1 | Mar 3 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Jan 18 | Jan 18 | Mar 4 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Jan 4 | Feb 15 | Apr 16 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 7 | Feb 8 | Apr 24 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Nov 23 | Feb 15 | May 21 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 7 | Feb 8 | Apr 24 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 7 | Feb 8 | Apr 29 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 7 | Feb 8 | Apr 29 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Jan 18 | Jan 18 | Mar 29 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Dec 21 | Feb 8 | Apr 19 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Dec 21 | Feb 8 | Apr 24 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Dec 21 | Feb 8 | Apr 29 | 80 from transplant |
Tight means first harvest lands within two weeks of the median first fall frost: start that crop indoors on time or cover it in fall.
What sauce can Jacksonville grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Jacksonville container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Jacksonville frost questions
When is the last frost in Jacksonville, FL?
The median last 32 °F freeze at JACKSONVILLE NAS, FL is February 1: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after March 3; nine years in ten, it comes after December 31 (prior winter). Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Jacksonville, FL?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is January 5 (next year). One year in ten it arrives before December 3; nine years in ten, before February 6 (next year).
How long is the growing season in Jacksonville, FL?
330 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 299 days; one year in ten, no freeze at all.
What growing zone is Jacksonville, FL?
USDA hardiness zone 9b, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 32203. A zone describes the coldest winter night, not when frost ends, so it is the wrong number for a planting calendar — the frost dates on this page are the right one.
When should I plant tomatoes in Jacksonville, FL?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Dec 21 and transplant around Feb 8, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Mar 3. First ripe fruit lands around Apr 24.
When should I plant peppers in Jacksonville, FL?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Dec 7; transplant no earlier than Feb 8, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Apr 24.
Nearby in Florida
- Palm Coastlast frost Jan 24
- Gainesvillelast frost Mar 3
- Ormond Beachlast frost Jan 30
- Ocalalast frost Feb 25
- Daytona Beachlast frost Jan 30
- Port Orangelast frost Jan 30
All Florida frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →