When to Plant Tomatoes in Florida: A Zone-by-Zone Guide

Florida’s climate allows tomato growing year-round in some areas, but timing matters based on where you live. This guide uses frost dates and temperature data to show the best planting times across Florida’s 7 zones.

The state ranges from cool winters in the Panhandle (Zone 8b) to tropical warmth in the Keys (Zone 11b). Tomatoes need at least 55 frost-free days and can’t handle temperatures below 32°F. Southern zones can plant tomatoes almost any month, while northern areas have narrow spring/fall windows.

Please ensure you are aware of your Florida’s Planting zone and Frost dates before reading this guide.

When to Plant Tomatoes in Florida

Below are specific planting dates for each zone, backed by frost data and tomato growing science.

Zone	First Planting Season	Second Planting Season
8b	March 20 – April 15	Not recommended (frost risk by Nov 5)
9a	February 25 – March 10	August 1 – 15
9b	January 25 – February 10	September 1 – 15
10a	January 5 – 20	September 1 – 15
10b	February – March	October – November
11a	October – December	Single season only (summer humidity)
11b	December – April	Coastal constraints (hurricane season)

Find your Florida Planting Zone

Select your Florida city, town or place in the box or type its name, and map will show you your Planting zone information.

North Florida’s Zone 8b (Panhandle: Crestview, Marianna)

Zone 8b’s shorter growing season (250 days) and variable frost dates demand careful planning to maximize tomato harvests while avoiding cold damage.

Spring Planting (March 20–April 15), Planting after March 20 aligns with soil warming above 60°F, critical for root development in northern Florida’s slow-warming sandy soils.

Using black plastic mulch accelerates soil warming by 5–7°F, making late March planting viable. The April 15 cutoff ensures harvest by early November before frost returns.

Quick-maturing tomatoes varieties like Celebrity (65 days) are essential here, as fall planting is impossible – frost arrives before tomatoes could ripen. Tomatoes require 60–80 frost-free days to mature and cannot survive temperatures ≤32°F. This schedule balances frost avoidance and heat requirements while maximizing the short growing window.

Zone 9a (Tallahassee, Gainesville)

In North Florida’s Zone 9a, tomatoes thrive with two annual planting windows due to the region’s long frost-free growing season (269–292 days) and seasonal climate challenges.

Spring Planting: Begin between February 25 and March 10, once soil temperatures reach 60°F. Cold-protection tools like row covers or black plastic mulch shield seedlings from occasional March frosts (last frost: March 5–19). This timing allows plants to establish before summer heat.

Fall Planting: Sow seeds August 1–15 to avoid July’s extreme temperatures (averaging 92°F), which damage pollen and reduce fruit yield by over 50%. Early planting ensures harvest before the first fall frost (November 13–24), while drip irrigation (1–2 inches weekly) prevents fruit-splitting in the region’s sandy, dry autumn soils.

Use heat-tolerant varieties like Solar Fire, which produce proteins to protect pollen above 90°F and withstand spring chills.

Zone 9b (Tampa, Lakeland)

Central Florida’s Zone 9b offers a 308–363-day growing season, allowing two tomato cycles but requiring careful timing to avoid extreme heat and seasonal storms.

Spring Planting (January 25–February 10): Begin once soils warm to 60°F by late January, using frost protection like row covers for unexpected chills (last frost range: January 30–February 15; Tampa’s last frost: February 3). This early start avoids summer heat while maximizing growth.

Fall Planting (September 1–15): Plant after peak summer heat (June–August averages 94°F), which damages flowers and reduces yields by over 50%. Early September timing minimizes hurricane risks while ensuring harvest before the first fall frost (November 28–December 2).

Key Strategies:

• Water deeply to prevent cracked fruit in sandy soils.
• Avoid June–August planting, as heat disrupts pollination.
• Balance timing with local frost data and storm patterns.

Central Florida’s Zone 10a (Orlando, Vero Beach)

In Zone 10a’s frost-free, year-round growing season (365 days), tomatoes thrive with two strategic planting cycles to avoid extreme summer heat while leveraging mild winters.

Spring Planting (January 5–20): Start in early January to avoid residual December chill and allow plants to mature before summer. Soil remains warm enough for germination, and daytime temperatures stay within the ideal 70–85°F range for growth.

Fall Planting (September 1–15): Plant after peak summer heat (May–August averages 90–95°F), which causes flower drop and reduces yields. September’s cooler nights and mornings support flowering and fruit set.

Key Strategies:

• Avoid May–August: Heat above 90°F disrupts pollination and stresses plants.
• Use shade cloth for accidental late spring planting to reduce sun scorch.
• Drip irrigation (1–2 inches weekly) combats sandy soil dryness and prevents blossom-end rot, a calcium deficiency linked to inconsistent watering.

South Florida’s Zone 10b (Naples, Fort Lauderdale)

Zone 10b (Naples, Fort Lauderdale) features a tropical climate with two optimal growing cycles to manage 75-90% humidity, summer monsoon rains (June-September delivers 42″ rainfall), and fungal disease risks like fusarium wilt and root rot.

Fall Planting (October 10–25): Plant crops after hurricane season peaks in September and summer rains subside. This period offers 78–88°F temperatures and sub-80% humidity, supporting fruit development while avoiding waterlogged soils.

Late Winter Planting (February 5–20): Start crops during the dry Mediterranean-like phase before May heat triggers blossom drop. Daytime 70–85°F and nighttime lows above 55°F strengthen roots and sustain flowering.

Avoid June–September: Humidity above 85% and 90°F+ temperatures increase powdery mildew risks and blossom drop.

Key Strategies:

• Choose disease-resistant varieties: Cherry tomatoes like Sweet 100 thrive in humidity due to thicker skins and shorter maturity times.
• Use drip irrigation to keep foliage dry, reducing fungal spread in rainy seasons.
• Space plants widely for airflow, counteracting dense tropical moisture.

Tropical Zone 11a (Miami, Key Largo)

In frost-free Zone 11a, tomatoes grow year-round but require careful timing to sidestep Miami’s intense summer humidity and heavy rainfall.

Optimal Planting (October–December): Plant during Miami’s dry season, when rainfall drops to 2.2 inches monthly (vs. 8.5 inches in June). Cooler nights (65–70°F) and lower humidity reduce fungal diseases and stress, while daytime warmth supports growth.

Avoid May–September: Summer brings 85% humidity and average highs of 88°F, which hinder pollination and increase mold, root rot, and pest risks.

Key Strategies:

• Use grafted tomatoes to combat sandy soil nematodes, a common issue in South Florida.
• Raised beds with compost improve drainage during sudden rainy-season storms.
• Heat-tolerant varieties like Florida 91 handle humidity better, while cherry types (Sun Gold) mature quickly.

Coastal Zone 11b (Florida Keys: Key West)

Zone 11b’s tropical climate is frost-free but demands strategies to counter salt spray, hurricanes, and intense summer heat.

Optimal Planting (December–April): Plant during the dry, cooler months to avoid hurricane season (June–November) and summer’s salt-laden winds. Daytime temperatures (75–85°F) support growth, while reduced storm risk improves plant survival.

Summer Adjustments: For mid-year planting, use shade-tolerant varieties like Heatmaster in containers. Potted plants allow control over soil salinity and easy relocation during storms.

Key Strategies:

• Salt-resistant soils: Grow in containers with a mix of compost, coconut coir, and perlite to counteract salty native soil.
• Grafted tomatoes: Use rootstocks like Solanum torvum to tolerate salinity and resist soil-borne diseases.
• Native varieties: Everglades tomato, a wild local cultivar, thrives in humidity and sandy, salty conditions.