Palm Bay, FL Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Palm Bay garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Jan 30
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Jan 11
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
346 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 10a
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Jan 1 Jan 30 Mar 1
First fall frost Feb 14 Jan 11 Dec 21
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 19 · first Jan 14

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the PALM BAY station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Palm Bay

Computed from Palm Bay's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-10 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Dec 5 – Dec 19 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🫑 Peppers Nov 21 – Dec 5 Feb 13 – Feb 20
🥬 Lettuce Dec 19 – Jan 2 Jan 2 – Jan 16 Jan 2 – Jan 30
🫛 Peas Dec 19 – Jan 2
🥕 Carrots Jan 9 – Jan 30
🥦 Broccoli Dec 12 – Dec 26 Jan 9 – Jan 23
🥬 Kale Dec 19 – Jan 2 Jan 2 – Jan 16 Jan 2 – Jan 16
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 2 – Jan 9 Feb 6 – Feb 13 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🥒 Zucchini Jan 2 – Jan 9 Feb 6 – Feb 13 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Feb 6 – Feb 13
🌽 Sweet Corn Feb 6 – Feb 13
🌿 Basil Dec 19 – Jan 2 Feb 6 – Feb 13 Feb 13 – Feb 20
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 30 – Dec 28

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Palm Bay's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Palm Bay

With roughly 346 frost-free days, Palm Bay gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Jan 11 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Palm Bay, FL?

The average last spring frost in Palm Bay is around Jan 30, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Palm Bay, FL?

The average first fall frost in Palm Bay arrives around Jan 11. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Palm Bay?

About 346 frost-free days on average, from Jan 30 to Jan 11. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Palm Bay in?

USDA zone 10a on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.