Frost dates for 32609Gainesville, FL
The average last spring frost in Gainesville is March 3 and the average first fall frost is December 2, giving a typical growing season of about 277 days. Dates are based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals.
- Average last spring frost
- Mar 3
- Average first fall frost
- Dec 2
- Growing season
- 277 days
Safer after Mar 23 (1-in-10 risk)
Possible by Nov 12 (1-in-10 risk)
First frost typically in 29 days
Frost risk by date
NOAA reports frost dates as probabilities. The middle date is the average (a 50% chance). For spring, the 10% date is a safer planting date: frost after it happens in about 1 year in 10. Light frost (36°F) can damage tender plants; a hard freeze (28°F) kills most annuals.
| Temperature | Last spring: 90% / 50% / 10% chance | First fall: 10% / 50% / 90% chance | Growing season (50%) | Years with at least one |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Light frost (36°F) | Feb 27 · Mar 17 · Apr 7 | Nov 3 · Nov 19 · Dec 9 | 246 days | 100% |
| Frost / freeze (32°F) | Feb 1 · Mar 3 · Mar 23 | Nov 12 · Dec 2 · Jan 1 | 277 days | 100% |
| Hard freeze (28°F) | Jan 9 · Feb 12 · Mar 14 | Nov 25 · Dec 25 · Jan 26 | 312 days | 94% |
Planting calendar for Gainesville
Planting windows from the University of Maryland Extension calendar, shifted to your average frost dates. Use them as a starting point and adjust for seed packet instructions and local conditions.
| Crop | Task | Window |
|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors | Jan 31 – Apr 8 |
| Tomatoes | Transplant outdoors | Mar 19 – Aug 12 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors | Jan 31 – Mar 3 |
| Peppers | Transplant outdoors | Apr 2 – May 3 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors | Feb 17 – Mar 18 |
| Eggplant | Transplant outdoors | Apr 2 – May 3 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors | Apr 2 – Aug 22 |
| Summer squash | Sow outdoors | Mar 19 – May 3 |
| Winter squash & pumpkins | Sow outdoors | Apr 2 – May 3 |
| Snap beans | Sow outdoors | Mar 19 – Sep 14 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors | Mar 19 – Aug 12 |
| Watermelon & cantaloupe | Sow outdoors | Apr 2 – May 3 |
| Okra | Sow outdoors | Mar 26 – Apr 18 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors (spring) | Jan 31 – Mar 18 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors (spring) | Jan 31 – Apr 2 |
| Onions | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Dec 20 – Jan 16 |
| Onions | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Feb 17 – Mar 18 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Jan 13 – Feb 16 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Feb 17 – Mar 18 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Aug 2 – Aug 12 |
| Broccoli | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Sep 1 – Sep 12 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (spring) | Jan 3 – Jan 31 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (spring) | Jan 31 – Mar 3 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors (fall) | Jul 23 – Aug 22 |
| Cabbage | Transplant outdoors (fall) | Aug 22 – Sep 22 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (spring) | Jan 31 – Apr 18 |
| Leaf lettuce | Sow outdoors (fall) | Aug 22 – Oct 8 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (spring) | Jan 24 – Mar 9 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors (fall) | Sep 8 – Oct 13 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (spring) | Jan 31 – Mar 23 |
| Radishes | Sow outdoors (fall) | Aug 22 – Oct 23 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (spring) | Feb 17 – Mar 9 |
| Kale | Sow outdoors (fall) | Aug 15 – Sep 22 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (spring) | Mar 3 – Apr 18 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors (fall) | Jul 23 – Sep 7 |
| Garlic | Plant outdoors (fall) | Nov 22 – Dec 23 |
Where these dates come from
ZIP code 32609 is matched to the NOAA station Gainesville Rgnl Ap, FL, 3.3 km away, at 123 ft elevation (38 ft lower than the ZIP code's center). Nearby stations for comparison:
| Station | Elevation | Avg last frost | Avg first frost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gainesville Rgnl Ap, FL (used) | 123 ft | Mar 3 | Dec 2 |
| Gainesville 11 Wnw, FL | 95 ft | Mar 4 | Dec 4 |
| High Springs, FL | 65 ft | Mar 13 | Nov 22 |
| Starke, FL | 150 ft | Feb 8 | Dec 24 |
Frost dates near Gainesville
- Gainesville, FL 32610 · last Mar 3, first Dec 2
- Waldo, FL 32694 · last Mar 3, first Dec 2
- La Crosse, FL 32658 · last Mar 3, first Dec 2
- Alachua, FL 32615 · last Mar 13, first Nov 22
- Earleton, FL 32631 · last Mar 3, first Dec 2
- Micanopy, FL 32667 · last Mar 3, first Dec 2
- Hampton, FL 32044 · last Mar 3, first Dec 2
- Hawthorne, FL 32640 · last Mar 3, first Dec 2
Frequently asked questions
- When is the last frost in Gainesville, FL?
- For ZIP code 32609, the average last spring frost (32°F) is March 3, based on NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals for the Gainesville Rgnl Ap, FL weather station. There is a 1-in-10 chance of a frost after March 23.
- When is the first frost in Gainesville, FL?
- The average first fall frost (32°F) is December 2. There is a 1-in-10 chance of frost by November 12, so tender plants are at risk from that point on.
- How long is the growing season in 32609?
- In half of years, the frost-free season (between the last and first 32°F frost) is at least 277 days long.
- Are these frost dates a forecast?
- No. They are 30-year averages and probabilities from NOAA weather station records. Use them to plan, then watch your local forecast before planting tender crops or leaving them uncovered.