Fall in zone 10bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 34996 (Stuart, 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, Stuart, FL (3 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 14% 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 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 18 (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 zone10b35 to 40°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 34996 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 3 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
- Tomato: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Pepper (sweet and hot): fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 19
- Eggplant: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 19
- Kale: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Collards: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Broccoli: fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 9
- Cabbage: fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 9
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 9
- Brussels sprouts: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 19
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 26–Nov 23
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 26–Nov 23
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 31–Nov 14
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 31–Nov 14
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 31–Nov 14
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 31–Nov 14
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 4 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 10 |
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 1 (next year) |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 18 (next year) |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 9 (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 17 (next year) |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 23 | Jan 18 (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 34996
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 23) and first fall frost (Jan 18). 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 28–Dec 12 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 14–28 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 14–28 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 2–23 (transplant) Dec 26–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 23–Dec 14 (transplant) Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 12–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Nov 23–Dec 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) Dec 26–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (transplant) Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Dec 26–Jan 23 (transplant) Dec 26–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (transplant) Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 14–28 | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 14–28 | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 14–28 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 31–Nov 14 | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) Dec 26–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 26–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Nov 23–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 26–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Nov 23–Dec 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 26–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Nov 23–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 12–26 | Jan 9–30 (transplant) Jan 9–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 26–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 19–Jan 30 (sow outdoors) | Dec 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 26–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 28–Dec 26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 31–Nov 14 | Dec 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 12–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 31–Nov 14 | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Dec 7–Jan 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 12–26 (transplant) | Dec 7–Jan 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 13–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 26–Jan 2 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 26–Jan 2 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 26–Jan 2 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 26–Jan 2 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 26–Jan 2 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 12–26 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 31–Nov 14 | Jan 30–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 12–26 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 9–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 23–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 14–28 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 23–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | Nov 9–Dec 7 (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 23 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Stuart, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00088620), elevation 13 ft, 3.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Port Salerno 5W, FL | 8 mi | Jan 26 | Jan 15 (next year) |
| Ft Pierce, FL | 20 mi | Jan 22 | Jan 12 (next year) |
| Juno Beach, FL | 24 mi | Jan 26 | Jan 16 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 34996
When is the last frost in 34996?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 34996 is January 23. For a more cautious planting date, use February 10, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 34996?
The average first fall freeze is January 18 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by January 1 (next year).
What hardiness zone is 34996?
ZIP 34996 is in USDA zone 10b (35 to 40°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 34996 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
34994 Stuart 34957 Jensen Beach 33455 Hobe Sound 34984 Port St. Lucie 34952 Port St. Lucie 34997 Port Salerno 34990 Palm City 34953 Port St. Lucie
Other ZIP codes in Martin County
33438 33455 33469 34956 34957 34990 34994 34997 All Martin 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.