Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 32401 (Panama City, 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, Panama City Bay Co AP, FL (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)318 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
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 32401 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring late January to mid-February (south Florida: earlier; check local soil temps); fall 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 18 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
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 15–Nov 12
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 29–Nov 19
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 19
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 26
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 5 |
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 23 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 23 (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 25 | Dec 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 7 | Dec 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 23 | Jan 5 (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 32401
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 7) and first fall frost (Dec 24). 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 13–27 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 13–27 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 13–27 | Jan 17–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 10–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 19 (transplant) Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 27–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 13–27 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 13–27 | Jan 10–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 15–29 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 13–27 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 3–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 17–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 13–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 15–29 | Dec 27–Jan 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 27–Jan 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 15–29 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 27–Jan 10 (transplant) | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 10–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 10–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 10–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 10–17 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 10–17 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 15–29 | Feb 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 17–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (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 7 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Panama City Bay Co AP, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00003882), elevation 21 ft, 4.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Panama City 5N, FL | 6 mi | Feb 15 | Dec 12 |
| NW Florida Beaches Intl AP, FL | 16 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 1 |
| Wewahitchka, FL | 26 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 29 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 25 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 32401
When is the last frost in 32401?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 32401 is February 7. For a more cautious planting date, use March 5, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 32401?
The average first fall freeze is December 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 23.
What hardiness zone is 32401?
ZIP 32401 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 32401 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
32405 Panama City 32444 Lynn Haven 32408 Upper Grand Lagoon 32404 Panama City 32403 Tyndall AFB 32407 Panama City Beach 32409 32413 Panama City Beach
Other ZIP codes in Bay County
32403 32404 32405 32407 32408 32409 32410 32413 32438 32444 32466 All Bay 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.