In Jacksonville, the average last spring frost is Feb 28 and the average first fall frost is Dec 5, a growing season of about 280 days (zone 9b). Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 17 and move them outside from Mar 14. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Sep 26, lettuce around Oct 10, spinach around Oct 17 and radishes around Oct 31.
Jacksonville at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Feb 28 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 5 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 280 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Jacksonville, FL; Jacksonville NAS, FL; and Jackson Whitehouse NOLF, FL, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (January)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Jan 17
- Start peppers indoors: Jan 17
- Start eggplant indoors: Jan 17
- Start lettuce indoors: Jan 17
- Start kale indoors: Jan 24
- Start broccoli indoors: Jan 24
- Start cabbage indoors: Jan 24
- Start basil indoors: Jan 31
Coming up in early February: direct sow spinach (Feb 7), direct sow peas (Feb 7), direct sow radishes (Feb 7), transplant lettuce (Feb 14), direct sow carrots (Feb 14), start cucumbers indoors (Feb 14), start zucchini indoors (Feb 14) and start winter squash indoors (Feb 14).
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (February)
- Direct sow spinach: Feb 7
- Direct sow peas: Feb 7
- Direct sow radishes: Feb 7
- Transplant lettuce: Feb 14
- Direct sow carrots: Feb 14
- Start cucumbers indoors: Feb 14
- Start zucchini indoors: Feb 14
- Start winter squash indoors: Feb 14
- Direct sow beets: Feb 21
- Transplant kale: Feb 21
- Transplant broccoli: Feb 21
- Transplant cabbage: Feb 21
- Direct sow potatoes: Feb 21
- Transplant onions: Feb 28
Coming up in early March: transplant cucumbers (Mar 7), transplant zucchini (Mar 7), transplant winter squash (Mar 7), direct sow beans (Mar 7), transplant tomatoes (Mar 14), transplant peppers (Mar 14), transplant eggplant (Mar 14) and transplant basil (Mar 14).
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (March)
- Transplant cucumbers: Mar 7
- Transplant zucchini: Mar 7
- Transplant winter squash: Mar 7
- Direct sow beans: Mar 7
- Transplant tomatoes: Mar 14
- Transplant peppers: Mar 14
- Transplant eggplant: Mar 14
- Transplant basil: Mar 14
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Jacksonville in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Jacksonville in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Jacksonville in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Jacksonville in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Jacksonville in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (September)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Sep 26
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Sep 26
Coming up in early October: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Oct 10).
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (October)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Oct 10
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Oct 17
- Plant garlic: Oct 24
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 31
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Jacksonville in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Dec 20.
What to plant in Jacksonville this month (December)
- Start onions indoors: Dec 20
Jacksonville planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 17 | Transplant Mar 14 | From May 31 |
| Peppers | Jan 17 | Transplant Mar 14 | From May 25 |
| Eggplant | Jan 17 | Transplant Mar 14 | From May 28 |
| Basil | Jan 31 | Transplant Mar 14 | From Apr 25 |
| Onions (from seed) | Dec 20 | Transplant Feb 28 | From Jun 8 |
| Lettuce | Jan 17 | Transplant Feb 14Fall: direct sow Oct 10 | From Mar 26Fall: from Nov 19 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Feb 7Fall: direct sow Oct 17 | From Mar 19Fall: from Nov 26 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Feb 7Fall: direct sow Sep 26 | From Apr 8Fall: from Nov 25 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 7Fall: direct sow Oct 31 | From Mar 4Fall: from Nov 25 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Feb 14 | From Apr 25 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Feb 21 | From Apr 17 |
| Kale | Jan 24 | Transplant Feb 21Fall: direct sow Sep 26 | From Apr 17Fall: from Nov 20 |
| Broccoli | Jan 24 | Transplant Feb 21 | From Apr 27 |
| Cabbage | Jan 24 | Transplant Feb 21 | From May 2 |
| Cucumbers | Feb 14 | Transplant Mar 7 | From May 1 |
| Zucchini | Feb 14 | Transplant Mar 7 | From Apr 26 |
| Winter squash | Feb 14 | Transplant Mar 7 | From Jun 5 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Mar 7 | From May 1 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 21 | From May 12 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Oct 24 | Around May 23 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Jacksonville's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready.
Fall planting in Jacksonville
GrowSmart schedules garlic in Jacksonville around Oct 24, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 5, with harvest around May 23.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Jacksonville:
- Peas: sow Sep 26, ready from about Nov 25
- Kale: sow Sep 26, ready from about Nov 20
- Lettuce: sow Oct 10, ready from about Nov 19
- Spinach: sow Oct 17, ready from about Nov 26
- Radishes: sow Oct 31, ready from about Nov 25
Nearby planting calendars
Jacksonville planting questions
When is the last frost in Jacksonville?
The average last spring frost in Jacksonville is Feb 28, and the average first fall frost is Dec 5, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Jacksonville?
Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 17, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Mar 14, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Jacksonville in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in Jacksonville. Sow peas and kale around Sep 26, lettuce around Oct 10, spinach around Oct 17 and radishes around Oct 31, and plant garlic around Oct 24.