Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 33872 (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, Avon Park 2 W, FL (6 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 69% of years (about 4 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 8 (next year)50% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)343 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 33872, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
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 33872 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 Mar 8 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
- Kale: fall sowing Oct 2–30
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 16–Nov 13
- Collards: fall sowing Oct 2–30
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 16–Nov 13
- Broccoli: fall transplant Oct 2–30
- Cabbage: fall transplant Oct 2–30
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Oct 2–30
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 16–30
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 27
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 13
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 13
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 13
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 13
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 13
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 30–Nov 27
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) | Dec 31 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 26 |
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) | Dec 12 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 8 (next year) |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 10 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 10 | Dec 29 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 28 | Jan 8 (next year) |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 14 | Jan 9 (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 33872
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 28) and first fall frost (Jan 8). 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 | Dec 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 3–17 | Jan 7–28 (transplant) Dec 31–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 13–Dec 4 (transplant) Oct 30–Nov 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 17–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Nov 13–Dec 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (transplant) Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 28 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (transplant) Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Oct 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Oct 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Oct 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Nov 13–Dec 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Nov 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 17–31 | Jan 14–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 24–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Nov 27–Dec 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 5–19 | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 17–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 27–Dec 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | Nov 27–Dec 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 5–19 | Feb 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 17–31 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Oct 30–Nov 27 (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 January 28 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Avon Park 2 W, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00080369), elevation 154 ft, 6.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wauchula, FL | 16 mi | Feb 4 | Jan 8 (next year) |
| Archbold Bio STN, FL | 25 mi | Feb 26 | Dec 22 |
| Sebring 23 SSE, FL | 27 mi | Feb 1 | Jan 8 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 33872
When is the last frost in 33872?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 33872 is January 28. For a more cautious planting date, use February 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 33872?
The average first fall freeze is January 8 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 12.
What hardiness zone is 33872?
ZIP 33872 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 33872 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
33875 Sebring 33825 Avon Park 33870 Sebring 33890 Lemon Grove 33876 33873 Lemon Grove 33843 Frostproof 33852 Lake Placid
Other ZIP codes in Highlands County
33825 33852 33857 33870 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.