Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 34221 (Palmetto, 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, Bradenton 5 ESE, FL (10 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 31% of years (about 1 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 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 11 (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
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 34221 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 Feb 24 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 5–Nov 2
- Collards: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
- Broccoli: fall transplant Oct 5–Nov 2
- Cabbage: fall transplant Oct 5–Nov 2
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Oct 5–Nov 2
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Lettuce: fall sowing Nov 2–30
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 19–Nov 16
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 19–Nov 16
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Nov 2–16
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Nov 2–16
- Beet: fall sowing Nov 2–16
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 26 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 9 |
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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 11 (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 27 | Jan 8 (next year) |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 16 | Jan 11 (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 34221
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 16) and first fall frost (Jan 11). 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 21–Dec 5 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 7–21 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 7–21 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 26–Jan 16 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–Dec 7 (transplant) Nov 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 16 (transplant) Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 19–Jan 16 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 16 (transplant) Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 7–21 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 7–21 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 7–21 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–Dec 14 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 19–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 5–19 | Jan 2–23 (transplant) Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 26–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 12–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Nov 30–Dec 14 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 19–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 26–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 21–Dec 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 5–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 30–Dec 28 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Nov 30–Dec 28 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 19–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 19–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 19–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 19–26 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 19–26 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Jan 23–30 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 5–19 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 7–21 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) Dec 26–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–30 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Nov 2–30 (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 16 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Bradenton 5 ESE, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00080945), elevation 20 ft, 9.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sarasota Bradenton AP, FL | 12 mi | Jan 15 | Jan 10 (next year) |
| Tampa Bay Area WFO, FL | 13 mi | Jan 20 | Jan 9 (next year) |
| Parrish, FL | 13 mi | Jan 28 | Jan 9 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 34221
When is the last frost in 34221?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 34221 is January 16. For a more cautious planting date, use February 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 34221?
The average first fall freeze is January 11 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 20.
What hardiness zone is 34221?
ZIP 34221 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 34221 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
34250 34222 Ellenton 34208 Bradenton 34205 Bradenton 34209 Bradenton 33570 Ruskin 34207 Bayshore Gardens 34203
Other ZIP codes in Manatee County
34201 34202 34203 34205 34207 34208 34209 34210 34211 34212 34215 34216 34217 34219 34222 34243 34250 34251 All Manatee 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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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.