Florida Gardening Guide (2026)

Subtropical/tropical. Two main growing seasons (spring and fall); St. Augustine and zoysia lawns.

Garden countdownToday: Aug 19

USDA 2023 zones + NOAA 1991-2020 frost normals. Estimates — check your local forecast before planting.

USDA hardiness zone
811
Region
Southeast
Typical last spring frost
01/15
Typical first fall frost
12/20
Frost-free season
339 days
Lawn grass type
Warm-season

Quick answer (Florida): Most of the state gardens in USDA zones 811 with about a 339-day frost-free window. Plan around the typical last frost of 01/15; start warm-season crops indoors ~6 weeks earlier. Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) + state cooperative extension typical freeze dates.

Your Florida planting calendar

Pre-filled for Florida. Pick a crop to see indoor start, sow/transplant, and harvest dates you can print.

In Florida (typical zone 811, last frost ≈ Jan 15, first frost ≈ Dec 20, 339-day season), your Tomato plan:

Start seeds indoors
Dec 4
Sow / transplant outdoors
Jan 29
First harvest
Apr 9
Spacing / depth
24″ / 0.25

Month-by-month (Florida, 2026)

MonthAction
JanSow · Transplant
Feb
Mar
AprHarvest
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
DecStart indoors

Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost; transplant after soil warms. Zones 313 suitable. Dates are typical; confirm with your county extension and watch the 10-day forecast.

Lawns in Florida

Best grass types for your climate:

BermudagrassZoysiagrassSt. AugustinegrassBuffalograss

Open the lawn care scheduler →

Common pests in Florida

The pests most reported in your region, with organic-first treatments:

Fire AntWhiteflyChinch BugFall ArmywormGarden Snail

Fire Ant

Targets
Lawns, beds, people/pets
Signs
Mounded nests; painful sting.
Organic / IPM first
Broadcast beneficial nematodes; boiling water (small mounds); diatomaceous earth.
Chemical option (follow label)
Bait containing spinosad or hydramethylnon; treat entire yard.
Prevention
Two-step bait program in spring and fall; keep lawn healthy.

What grows well in Florida

Crops suitable for zones 811:

CropTypeSpacingDays to harvest
TomatoWarm-season2470
PepperWarm-season1875
LettuceCool-season845
CarrotCool-season365
Green BeansWarm-season455
SpinachCool-season640
CucumberWarm-season1255
ZucchiniWarm-season3650
KaleCool-season1255
BroccoliCool-season1870

Figures are typical (30-year normals) from USDA and state extension services. Always confirm your local last/first freeze and product labels with your county extension before acting.