Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 32131 (East Palatka, FL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Federal Pt, FL (6 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 83% of years (about 3 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 4 (next year)50% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)337 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 70°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Sellers Lake #1 (40 mi).
4-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Sellers Lake #1 (40 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 32131 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 77°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically October to early November).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- St. Augustinegrass (warm-season): Spring: About 2–3 weeks after full green-up (May in the Carolinas; earlier in Florida and south Texas) (about Mar 11 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Light feedings June–August where local rules allow; Last: No later than about mid-September in the Carolinas, about 6–8 weeks before first frost elsewhere. Avoid: Feeding before green-up or late in fall (feeds weeds and favors large patch and cold injury).
Plant now
- Kale: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 26
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 9
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 26
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 9
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 12–26
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 23
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 26–Nov 23
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Jan 2 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 28 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Dec 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 4 (next year) |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 1 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 16 | Dec 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 31 | Jan 4 (next year) |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 21 | Jan 12 (next year) |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 32131
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 31) and first fall frost (Jan 4). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 6–20 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 6–20 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 6–20 | Jan 10–31 (transplant) Jan 3–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–30 (transplant) Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 20–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–30 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (transplant) Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–31 (transplant) Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (transplant) Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 17–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 27–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Nov 23–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 8–22 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 23–Dec 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Nov 23–Dec 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 14–28 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 3–10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 3–10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 8–22 | Feb 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Florida has a university or garden plant program: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide. Plant frost-tender annuals after January 31 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Federal Pt, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00082915), elevation 5 ft, 5.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hastings 4NE, FL | 8 mi | Feb 14 | Dec 30 |
| Crescent City, FL | 18 mi | Feb 1 | Jan 8 (next year) |
| Palm Coast 6NE, FL | 22 mi | Jan 24 | Jan 11 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 32131
When is the last frost in 32131?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 32131 is January 31. For a more cautious planting date, use February 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 32131?
The average first fall freeze is January 4 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 7.
What hardiness zone is 32131?
ZIP 32131 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 32131 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
32187 32177 Palatka 32145 Flagler Estates 32189 32033 32181 Pomona Park 32147 32157
Other ZIP codes in Putnam County
32112 32139 32140 32147 32148 32157 32177 32181 32187 32189 32193 32666 All Putnam County frost dates · Florida frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.