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Pensacola, FL Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 9a · ZIP 32501 · elevation 9′ · NOAA & USDA data

Pensacola is in USDA hardiness zone 9a (winters can dip to 20 to 25°F), with a growing season of about 301 days between the average last spring frost (February 14) and first fall frost (December 9). The warmest month is July (avg high 89.3°F); the coldest is January (avg low 42.2°F). It averages 57.7″ of precipitation a year. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
9a
min temp 20 to 25°F
Last spring frost
February 14
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
December 9
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
301 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
July
avg high 89.3°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Pensacola

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Pensacola Forest Sherman Nas, FL (7.8 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 61.1 42.2 51.6 4.5 0
February 64.3 45 54.7 4 0
March 69.3 50.4 59.9 3.9 0
April 75.1 56.9 66 5 0
May 82.4 64.8 73.6 3.2 0
June 87.4 71.7 79.6 6.3 0
July 89.3 73.9 81.6 6.4 0
August 89 73.4 81.2 5.7 0
September 86.4 69.7 78.1 6.8 0
October 79.3 59.6 69.4 4.3 0
November 70.2 49.3 59.8 3.8 0
December 64 44.5 54.2 3.9 0

What to plant when in Pensacola

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: January 3 · Transplant out: February 21
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: December 20 · Transplant out: February 28
CucumberswarmDirect sow: February 21
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: February 21
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: February 21
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: February 21
BasilwarmTransplant out: February 21
PeascoolSow (spring): January 10 · Sow (fall): October 14
SpinachcoolSow (spring): January 3 · Sow (fall): October 14
LettucecoolSow (spring): January 17 · Sow (fall): October 14
KalecoolTransplant (spring): January 24 · Sow (fall): September 30
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): January 31
CarrotscoolSow (spring): January 24 · Sow (fall): September 30
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): January 17
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: January 31
RadishescoolSow (spring): January 17 · Sow (fall): October 28

Dates are computed from Pensacola's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

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Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in Florida

Panama City, FLTallahassee, FLGainesville, FLClearwater, FLLargo, FLOcala, FLJacksonville, FLPinellas Park, FL

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Pensacola Rgnl Ap, FL, 4 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Pensacola Forest Sherman Nas, FL, 7.8 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.