Frost dates · USDA zone 9b
Frost dates for Lakeland, FL
Lakeland, FL sees its last 32 °F night of spring around January 26 and its first of fall around January 9 (next year) — a 349-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 | Jan 2 | Feb 4 (next year) |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Jan 26 | Jan 9 (next year) |
| 1 year in 10 | Feb 21 | Dec 20 |
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: 349 days median, at least 313 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 17 and first of Jan 13 (next year).
Lakeland planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Jan 26) and median first frost (Jan 9) 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 3 | Dec 29 | Apr 18 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Jan 26 | Feb 25 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Jan 12 | Jan 12 | Feb 26 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Dec 29 | Feb 9 | Apr 10 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 1 | Feb 2 | Apr 18 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Nov 17 | Feb 9 | May 15 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 1 | Feb 2 | Apr 18 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 1 | Feb 2 | Apr 23 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 1 | Feb 2 | Apr 23 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Jan 12 | Jan 12 | Mar 23 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Dec 15 | Feb 2 | Apr 13 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Dec 15 | Feb 2 | Apr 18 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Dec 15 | Feb 2 | Apr 23 | 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 Lakeland grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Lakeland container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Lakeland frost questions
When is the last frost in Lakeland, FL?
The median last 32 °F freeze at LAKELAND 2, FL is January 26: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after February 21; nine years in ten, it comes after January 2. Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Lakeland, FL?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is January 9 (next year). One year in ten it arrives before December 20; nine years in ten, before February 4 (next year).
How long is the growing season in Lakeland, FL?
349 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 313 days; one year in ten, no freeze at all.
What growing zone is Lakeland, FL?
USDA hardiness zone 9b, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 33815. 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 Lakeland, FL?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Dec 15 and transplant around Feb 2, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Feb 21. First ripe fruit lands around Apr 18.
When should I plant peppers in Lakeland, FL?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Dec 1; transplant no earlier than Feb 2, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Apr 18.
Nearby in Florida
- Plant Citylast frost Jan 30
- Winter Havenlast frost Jan 16
- Haines Citylast frost Jan 16
- Tampalast frost Jan 20
- Clermontlast frost Jan 29
- Kissimmeelast frost Jan 28
All Florida frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →