Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 33976 (Lehigh Acres, 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, Ft Myers SW Fl Rgnl AP, FL (6 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 15% of years (about 0 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 1750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 16 (next year)50% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)year-round in a typical yearmedian, 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
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
82°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 78°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Everglades City 5 NE (53 mi).
4-inch depth
82°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 79°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Everglades City 5 NE (53 mi).
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 33976 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 82°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically 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 Feb 25 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 10–Nov 7
- Collards: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
- Broccoli: fall transplant Oct 10–Nov 7
- Cabbage: fall transplant Oct 10–Nov 7
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Oct 10–Nov 7
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Lettuce: fall sowing Nov 7–Dec 5
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 24–Nov 21
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 24–Nov 21
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Nov 7–21
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Nov 7–21
- Beet: fall sowing Nov 7–21
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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 17 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 6 |
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) | Jan 4 (next year) |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 16 (next year) |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 5 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jan 26 | Jan 14 (next year) |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 17 | Jan 16 (next year) |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | n/a | n/a |
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 33976
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 17) and first fall frost (Jan 16). 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 | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Sep 19–Oct 17 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 8–22 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 8–22 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Dec 27–Jan 17 (transplant) Dec 20–Jan 31 (sow outdoors) | Nov 21–Dec 12 (transplant) Nov 7–Dec 5 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Nov 21–Dec 12 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) Dec 20–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 21 (transplant) Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Dec 20–Jan 17 (transplant) Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 21 (transplant) Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 8–22 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 8–22 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 17 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) Dec 20–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 20–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Nov 21–Dec 5 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 21–Dec 19 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 20–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Nov 21–Dec 5 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–24 (transplant) Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 27–Jan 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 13–Jan 24 (sow outdoors) | Dec 5–19 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 20–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 27–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 22–Dec 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Dec 5–Jan 2 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Dec 5–Jan 2 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 20–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 20–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 20–27 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 20–27 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 20–27 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 6–20 | Jan 31–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Jan 24–31 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 6–20 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Nov 21–Dec 5 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) Dec 27–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Nov 21–Dec 5 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Nov 7–Dec 5 (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 17 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Ft Myers SW Fl Rgnl AP, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00012894), elevation 31 ft, 5.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ft Myers Page Fld AP, FL | 11 mi | Jan 16 | Jan 13 (next year) |
| Immokalee, FL | 18 mi | Jan 23 | Jan 11 (next year) |
| La Belle, FL | 19 mi | Feb 2 | Jan 8 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 17 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 33976
When is the last frost in 33976?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 33976 is January 17. For a more cautious planting date, use February 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 33976?
The average first fall freeze is January 16 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by January 4 (next year).
What hardiness zone is 33976?
ZIP 33976 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 33976 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
33973 Lehigh Acres 33971 Lehigh Acres 33913 Fort Myers 33974 Lehigh Acres 33972 Lehigh Acres 33905 Buckingham 33936 Lehigh Acres 33966 Fort Myers
Other ZIP codes in Lee County
33901 33903 33904 33905 33907 33908 33909 33912 33913 33914 33916 33917 33919 33920 33921 33922 33924 33928 33931 33956 33957 33965 33966 33967 All Lee County frost dates · Florida frost dates
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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.