Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 32466 (Bay County, 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 5N, FL (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)301 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
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 32466 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 mid-February to early March; fall September to early October.
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 2 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 Oct 3–31
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 17–Nov 7
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 17–Nov 7
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 17–31
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 17–Nov 14
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 17–31
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 17–31
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 17–31
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 3–31
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 31–Nov 14
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 31–Nov 28
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 31–Nov 28
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 12: 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 13 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 11 |
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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 12 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 12 (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 2 | Nov 25 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 15 | Dec 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 31 | Jan 1 (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 32466
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 15) and first fall frost (Dec 12). 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 21–Jan 4 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 7–21 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 7–21 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 25–Feb 15 (transplant) Jan 18–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 17–Nov 7 (transplant) Oct 3–31 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 17–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (transplant) Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 15 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (transplant) Sep 5–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 7–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 7–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 7–21 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 17–31 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 17–Nov 14 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 18–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 17–31 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 4–18 | Feb 1–22 (transplant) Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 11–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 31–Nov 14 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 18–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 31–Nov 28 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Oct 31–Nov 28 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 18–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 18–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 19–Oct 3 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 18–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 18–25 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 18–25 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Feb 22–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 4–18 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 7–21 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 17–31 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Oct 3–31 (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 15 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Panama City 5N, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00086842), elevation 5 ft, 15.1 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 Bay Co AP, FL | 18 mi | Feb 7 | Dec 24 |
| NW Florida Beaches Intl AP, FL | 19 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 1 |
| Wewahitchka, FL | 24 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 32466
When is the last frost in 32466?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 32466 is February 15. For a more cautious planting date, use March 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 32466?
The average first fall freeze is December 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 16.
What hardiness zone is 32466?
ZIP 32466 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 32466 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
32438 32404 Panama City 32430 32409 32444 Lynn Haven 32449 32428 Chipley 32420 Alford
Other ZIP codes in Bay County
32401 32403 32404 32405 32407 32408 32409 32410 32413 32438 32444 All Bay County frost dates · Florida frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- 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.