Fall in zone 10bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 34138 (Chokoloskee, 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, Everglades, FL (3 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 22% of years (about 1 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 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 14 (next year)50% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)year-round in a typical yearmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10b35 to 40°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
82°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 78°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Everglades City 5 NE, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 84°, Fri 83°, Sat 82°.
4-inch depth
82°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 79°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Everglades City 5 NE, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 83°, Fri 83°, Sat 82°.
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 34138 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 82°F at 4 inches. 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 Feb 24 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 Oct 8–Nov 5
- Collards: fall sowing Oct 8–Nov 5
- Broccoli: fall transplant Oct 8–Nov 5
- Cabbage: fall transplant Oct 8–Nov 5
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Oct 8–Nov 5
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Lettuce: fall sowing Nov 5–Dec 3
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 22–Nov 19
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 22–Nov 19
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Nov 5–19
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Nov 5–19
- Beet: fall sowing Nov 5–19
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 3 |
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) | Jan 1 (next year) |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 14 (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) | Jan 22 | Jan 14 (next year) |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 16 | Jan 14 (next year) |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | n/a | n/a |
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 34138
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 16) and first fall frost (Jan 14). 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 | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 7–21 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 7–21 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 26–Jan 16 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 19–Dec 10 (transplant) Nov 5–Dec 3 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Nov 19–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 19 (transplant) Oct 8–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 19–Jan 16 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 19 (transplant) Oct 8–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 7–21 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 7–21 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 7–21 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Oct 8–Nov 5 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Nov 19–Dec 3 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Nov 19–Dec 17 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 19–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Nov 19–Dec 3 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 5–19 | Jan 2–23 (transplant) Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–19 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–19 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 26–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 12–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Dec 3–17 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 19–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 26–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 21–Dec 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 5–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Nov 5–19 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Dec 3–31 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Dec 3–31 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Sep 24–Oct 8 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 19–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 19–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 22–Nov 5 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 19–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 19–26 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 19–26 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Jan 23–30 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 5–19 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 19–Dec 3 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 7–21 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) Dec 26–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 19–Dec 3 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Nov 5–Dec 3 (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 16 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Everglades, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00082850), elevation 5 ft, 2.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everglades City 5 NE, FL | 7 mi | Jan 24 | Jan 20 (next year) |
| Oasis Rs, FL | 21 mi | Jan 18 | Jan 16 (next year) |
| Naples, FL | 31 mi | Jan 18 | Jan 11 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 8 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 34138
When is the last frost in 34138?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 34138 is January 16. For a more cautious planting date, use February 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 34138?
The average first fall freeze is January 14 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by January 1 (next year).
What hardiness zone is 34138?
ZIP 34138 is in USDA zone 10b (35 to 40°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 34138 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
34139 Everglades 34137 34114 Winding Cypress 34140 Marco Island 34145 Marco Island 34141 34117 34113 Lely Resort
Other ZIP codes in Collier County
34101 34102 34103 34104 34105 34108 34109 34110 34112 34113 34114 34116 34117 34119 34120 34137 34139 34140 34141 34142 34145 All Collier 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.