Sarasota Bradenton Airport, FL Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Jan 15
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Jan 10
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
360 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 10a
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 29 Jan 15 Feb 8
First fall frost Feb 3 Jan 10 Dec 24

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the SARASOTA BRADENTON AP 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 Sarasota Bradenton Airport

Computed from Sarasota Bradenton Airport'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 Nov 20 – Dec 4 Jan 22 – Jan 29
🫑 Peppers Nov 6 – Nov 20 Jan 29 – Feb 5
🥬 Lettuce Dec 4 – Dec 18 Dec 18 – Jan 1 Dec 18 – Jan 15
🫛 Peas Dec 4 – Dec 18
🥕 Carrots Dec 25 – Jan 15
🥦 Broccoli Nov 27 – Dec 11 Dec 25 – Jan 8
🥬 Kale Dec 4 – Dec 18 Dec 18 – Jan 1 Dec 18 – Jan 1
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 18 – Dec 25 Jan 22 – Jan 29 Jan 22 – Jan 29
🥒 Zucchini Dec 18 – Dec 25 Jan 22 – Jan 29 Jan 22 – Jan 29
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 22 – Jan 29
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 22 – Jan 29
🌿 Basil Dec 4 – Dec 18 Jan 22 – Jan 29 Jan 29 – Feb 5
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 29 – Dec 27

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 Sarasota Bradenton Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Sarasota Bradenton Airport

With roughly 360 frost-free days, Sarasota Bradenton Airport 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 10 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Sarasota Bradenton Airport, FL?

The average last spring frost in Sarasota Bradenton Airport is around Jan 15, 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 Sarasota Bradenton Airport, FL?

The average first fall frost in Sarasota Bradenton Airport arrives around Jan 10. 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 Sarasota Bradenton Airport?

About 360 frost-free days on average, from Jan 15 to Jan 10. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Sarasota Bradenton Airport 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.