Frost dates · USDA zone 9a
Frost dates for Pensacola, FL
Pensacola, FL sees its last 32 °F night of spring around February 14 and its first of fall around December 9 — a 301-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 21 | Jan 10 (next year) |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Feb 14 | Dec 9 |
| 1 year in 10 | Mar 11 | Nov 17 |
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: 301 days median, at least 266 in 9 years of 10, at least 336 days 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 31 and first of Jan 1 (next year).
Pensacola planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Feb 14) and median first frost (Dec 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 22 | Jan 17 | May 7 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Feb 14 | Mar 16 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Jan 31 | Jan 31 | Mar 17 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Jan 17 | Feb 28 | Apr 29 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 20 | Feb 21 | May 7 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Dec 6 | Feb 28 | Jun 3 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 20 | Feb 21 | May 7 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 20 | Feb 21 | May 12 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 20 | Feb 21 | May 12 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Jan 31 | Jan 31 | Apr 11 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Jan 3 | Feb 21 | May 2 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Jan 3 | Feb 21 | May 7 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Jan 3 | Feb 21 | May 12 | 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 Pensacola grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Pensacola container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Pensacola frost questions
When is the last frost in Pensacola, FL?
The median last 32 °F freeze at PENSACOLA RGNL AP, FL is February 14: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after March 11; nine years in ten, it comes after January 21. Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Pensacola, FL?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is December 9. One year in ten it arrives before November 17; nine years in ten, before January 10 (next year).
How long is the growing season in Pensacola, FL?
301 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 266 days; one year in ten, at least 336 days.
What growing zone is Pensacola, FL?
USDA hardiness zone 9a, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 32503. 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 Pensacola, FL?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Jan 3 and transplant around Feb 21, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Mar 11. First ripe fruit lands around May 7.
When should I plant peppers in Pensacola, FL?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Dec 20; transplant no earlier than Feb 21, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around May 7.
Nearby in Florida
- Tallahasseelast frost Mar 11
- Gainesvillelast frost Mar 3
- Ocalalast frost Feb 25
- Clearwaterlast frost Jan 17
- Largolast frost Jan 17
- Pinellas Parklast frost Jan 17
All Florida frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →