Florida Gardening Guide (2026)

Subtropical/tropical. Two main growing seasons (spring and fall); St. Augustine and zoysia lawns.

USDA hardiness zone
8โ€“11
Region
Southeast
Typical last spring frost
01/15
Typical first fall frost
12/20
Frost-free season
339 days
Lawn grass type
Warm-season

Quick answer (Florida): Most of the state gardens in USDA zones 8โ€“11 with about a 339-day frost-free window. Plan around the typical last frost of 01/15; start warm-season crops indoors ~6 weeks earlier. Source: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023) + state cooperative extension typical freeze dates.

Your Florida planting calendar

Pre-filled for Florida. Pick a crop to see indoor start, sow/transplant, and harvest dates you can print.

In Florida (typical zone 8โ€“11, last frost โ‰ˆ Jan 15, first frost โ‰ˆ Dec 20, 339-day season), your Tomato plan:

Start seeds indoors
Dec 4
Sow / transplant outdoors
Jan 29
First harvest
Apr 9
Spacing / depth
24โ€ณ / 0.25โ€ณ

Month-by-month (Florida, 2026)

MonthAction
JanSow ยท Transplant
Febโ€”
Marโ€”
AprHarvest
Mayโ€”
Junโ€”
Julโ€”
Augโ€”
Sepโ€”
Octโ€”
Novโ€”
DecStart indoors

Start indoors 6 weeks before last frost; transplant after soil warms. Zones 3โ€“13 suitable. Dates are typical; confirm with your county extension and watch the 10-day forecast.

Lawns in Florida

Best grass types for your climate:

BermudagrassZoysiagrassSt. AugustinegrassBuffalograss

Open the lawn care scheduler โ†’

Common pests in Florida

The pests most reported in your region, with organic-first treatments:

Fire AntWhiteflyChinch BugFall ArmywormGarden Snail

Fire Ant

Targets
Lawns, beds, people/pets
Signs
Mounded nests; painful sting.
Organic / IPM first
Broadcast beneficial nematodes; boiling water (small mounds); diatomaceous earth.
Chemical option (follow label)
Bait containing spinosad or hydramethylnon; treat entire yard.
Prevention
Two-step bait program in spring and fall; keep lawn healthy.

What grows well in Florida

Crops suitable for zones 8โ€“11:

CropTypeSpacingDays to harvest
TomatoWarm-season24โ€ณ70
PepperWarm-season18โ€ณ75
LettuceCool-season8โ€ณ45
CarrotCool-season3โ€ณ65
Green BeansWarm-season4โ€ณ55
SpinachCool-season6โ€ณ40
CucumberWarm-season12โ€ณ55
ZucchiniWarm-season36โ€ณ50
KaleCool-season12โ€ณ55
BroccoliCool-season18โ€ณ70

Figures are typical (30-year normals) from USDA and state extension services. Always confirm your local last/first freeze and product labels with your county extension before acting.