Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 32569 (Mary Esther, 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, Destin Ft Walton AP, FL (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)321 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
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 65°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Brewton 3 NNE (54 mi), Koptis Farms (58 mi).
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Brewton 3 NNE (54 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 32569 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°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 Mar 23 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
- Kale: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 5–Nov 2
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 5–Nov 2
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 5–19
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 16
- Lettuce: fall transplant Nov 2–23
- Spinach: fall sowing Nov 2–23
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 2
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Nov 2–16
- Arugula: fall sowing Nov 2–30
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Nov 2–16
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 2
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 2
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 2
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 2
- Cilantro: fall sowing Nov 2–16
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 5 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 4 |
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 27 (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 24 | Dec 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 5 | Dec 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 27 | Jan 7 (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 32569
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 5) and first fall frost (Dec 28). 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 11–25 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 11–25 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 11–25 | Jan 15–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 8–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–23 (transplant) Oct 19–Nov 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 25–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 11–25 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (transplant) Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 11–25 | Jan 8–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (transplant) Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 13–27 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 11–25 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Jan 22–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 1–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 11–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 13–27 | Dec 25–Jan 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 25–Jan 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 13–27 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 16–Dec 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 25–Jan 8 (transplant) | Nov 16–Dec 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 8–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 8–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 8–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 8–15 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 8–15 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 13–27 | Feb 12–19 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Oct 19–Nov 16 (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 5 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Destin Ft Walton AP, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00053853), elevation 22 ft, 15.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chactaw Nolf Milton, FL | 15 mi | Mar 1 | Nov 27 |
| Niceville, FL | 16 mi | Mar 12 | Nov 19 |
| Whiting Field NAS South, FL | 27 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 38 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 32569
When is the last frost in 32569?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 32569 is February 5. For a more cautious planting date, use March 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 32569?
The average first fall freeze is December 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 1.
What hardiness zone is 32569?
ZIP 32569 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 32569 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
32544 Hurlburt Field 32547 Wright 32548 Fort Walton Beach 32579 Lake Lorraine 32566 Navarre 32542 Eglin AFB 32580 Valparaiso 32541 Destin
Other ZIP codes in Okaloosa County
32531 32536 32539 32541 32542 32544 32547 32548 32567 32578 32579 32580 All Okaloosa 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.