Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 32309 (Tallahassee, 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, Monticello 10 SW, FL (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)286 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Wakulla #1 (27 mi), Newton 11 SW (47 mi), Newton 8 W (55 mi).
4-inch depth
73°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 Wakulla #1 (27 mi), Newton 11 SW (47 mi), Newton 8 W (55 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 32309 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about Apr 12 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 24–Oct 22
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 8–29
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 8–29
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 8–Nov 5
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 8–22
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 24–Oct 22
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 3: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 17 |
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) | Nov 13 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 6 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 12 | Nov 18 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 25 | Dec 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 4 | Dec 27 |
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 32309
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Dec 3). 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 31–Jan 14 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 17–31 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 17–31 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 4–25 (transplant) Jan 28–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–29 (transplant) Sep 24–Oct 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (transplant) Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 25 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–Oct 8 (transplant) Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 17–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 17–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 3–17 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 21–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 3–17 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 3–17 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 22–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Oct 22–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 10–24 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 3–17 | Mar 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 14–28 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 22 (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 February 25 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Monticello 10 SW, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00085880), elevation 219 ft, 12.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tallahassee, FL | 18 mi | Mar 11 | Nov 21 |
| Tallahassee AP, FL | 20 mi | Mar 14 | Nov 23 |
| Monticello 5 SE, FL | 20 mi | Mar 7 | Nov 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 20 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 32309
When is the last frost in 32309?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 32309 is February 25. For a more cautious planting date, use March 17, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 32309?
The average first fall freeze is December 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 13.
What hardiness zone is 32309?
ZIP 32309 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 32309 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
32317 Tallahassee 32337 Lloyd 32312 Tallahassee 32308 Tallahassee 31792 Thomasville 32311 Tallahassee 32301 Tallahassee 32344 Monticello
Other ZIP codes in Leon County
32301 32303 32304 32305 32306 32307 32308 32310 32311 32312 32313 32317 32399 All Leon County frost dates · Florida frost dates
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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.