Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 33857 (Highlands County, FL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Archbold Bio STN, FL (17 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)300 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10a30 to 35°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 33857 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring late January to mid-February (south Florida: earlier; check local soil temps); fall October to early November.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- St. Augustinegrass (warm-season): Spring: About 2–3 weeks after full green-up (May in the Carolinas; earlier in Florida and south Texas) (about Apr 6 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Light feedings June–August where local rules allow; Last: No later than about mid-September in the Carolinas, about 6–8 weeks before first frost elsewhere. Avoid: Feeding before green-up or late in fall (feeds weeds and favors large patch and cold injury).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 13–Nov 10
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 29–Oct 27
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 29–Oct 27
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 13–Nov 10
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 27–Nov 17
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 17
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 24
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Jan 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 28 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 27 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 22 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 27 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 19 | Dec 3 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 26 | Dec 22 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Feb 4 | Jan 7 (next year) |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 33857
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 26) and first fall frost (Dec 22). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 1–15 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 1–15 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 1–15 | Feb 5–26 (transplant) Jan 29–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 17 (transplant) Oct 13–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (transplant) Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 26 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (transplant) Sep 15–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 4–18 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Sep 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 22–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Nov 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 4–18 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 4–18 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 10–Dec 8 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Nov 10–Dec 8 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Sep 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 4–18 | Mar 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 15–29 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Oct 13–Nov 10 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Florida has a university or garden plant program: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide. Plant frost-tender annuals after February 26 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Archbold Bio STN, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00080236), elevation 140 ft, 16.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kissimmee Prairie Preserve, FL | 18 mi | Jan 30 | Jan 11 (next year) |
| Sebring 23 SSE, FL | 19 mi | Feb 1 | Jan 8 (next year) |
| Brighton Rsvn, FL | 23 mi | Jan 31 | Jan 12 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 27 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 33857
When is the last frost in 33857?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 33857 is February 26. For a more cautious planting date, use March 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 33857?
The average first fall freeze is December 22. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 27.
What hardiness zone is 33857?
ZIP 33857 is in USDA zone 10a (30 to 35°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 33857 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
33876 33852 Lake Placid 33870 Sebring 34972 Yeehaw Junction 33875 Sebring 34974 Taylor Creek 33960 33872
Other ZIP codes in Highlands County
33825 33852 33870 33872 33875 33876 33960 All Highlands County frost dates · Florida frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.