Winter Haven, FL Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Jan 16
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Jan 9
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
358 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 16 Feb 15
First fall frost Feb 7 Jan 9 Dec 23

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the WINTER HAVEN 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 Winter Haven

Computed from Winter Haven'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 21 – Dec 5 Jan 23 – Jan 30
🫑 Peppers Nov 7 – Nov 21 Jan 30 – Feb 6
🥬 Lettuce Dec 5 – Dec 19 Dec 19 – Jan 2 Dec 19 – Jan 16
🫛 Peas Dec 5 – Dec 19
🥕 Carrots Dec 26 – Jan 16
🥦 Broccoli Nov 28 – Dec 12 Dec 26 – Jan 9
🥬 Kale Dec 5 – Dec 19 Dec 19 – Jan 2 Dec 19 – Jan 2
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 19 – Dec 26 Jan 23 – Jan 30 Jan 23 – Jan 30
🥒 Zucchini Dec 19 – Dec 26 Jan 23 – Jan 30 Jan 23 – Jan 30
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 23 – Jan 30
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 23 – Jan 30
🌿 Basil Dec 5 – Dec 19 Jan 23 – Jan 30 Jan 30 – Feb 6
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 28 – Dec 26

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 Winter Haven's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Winter Haven

With roughly 358 frost-free days, Winter Haven 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 9 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Winter Haven, FL?

The average last spring frost in Winter Haven is around Jan 16, 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 Winter Haven, FL?

The average first fall frost in Winter Haven arrives around Jan 9. 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 Winter Haven?

About 358 frost-free days on average, from Jan 16 to Jan 9. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Winter Haven 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.