Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 34251 (Manatee 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, Myakka Rvr Sp, FL (13 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 79% of years (about 3 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 frostFeb 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 6 (next year)50% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)336 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 34251, 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 34251 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 12 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 Sep 30–Oct 28
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 14–Nov 11
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 28
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 14–Nov 11
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 14–28
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 25
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 28–Nov 25
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 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 3 |
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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 6 (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) | Feb 19 | Dec 27 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 1 | Jan 6 (next year) |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 15 | 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 34251
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 1) and first fall frost (Jan 6). 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 7–21 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 7–21 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 7–21 | Jan 11–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 4–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–Dec 2 (transplant) Oct 28–Nov 25 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 21–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–Dec 2 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (transplant) Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (transplant) Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 9–23 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 28–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Nov 25–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 11–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 7–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 9–23 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 9–23 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 25–Dec 23 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | Nov 25–Dec 23 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 4–11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 4–11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 4–11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 4–11 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 4–11 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 9–23 | Feb 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 11–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Oct 28–Nov 25 (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 1 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Myakka Rvr Sp, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00086065), elevation 19 ft, 13.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ft Green 12 WSW, FL | 14 mi | Feb 6 | Jan 3 (next year) |
| Parrish, FL | 19 mi | Jan 28 | Jan 9 (next year) |
| Bradenton 5 ESE, FL | 21 mi | Jan 16 | Jan 11 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 21 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 34251
When is the last frost in 34251?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 34251 is February 1. For a more cautious planting date, use March 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 34251?
The average first fall freeze is January 6 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 5.
What hardiness zone is 34251?
ZIP 34251 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 34251 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
34240 Lakewood Ranch 33865 Limestone 34202 Lakewood Ranch 34211 Lakewood Ranch 34219 34241 Lake Sarasota 34212 Lakewood Ranch 34201
Other ZIP codes in Manatee County
34201 34202 34203 34205 34207 34208 34209 34210 34211 34212 34215 34216 34217 34219 34221 34222 34243 34250 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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- 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.