Florida planting calendar

When to plant chives in Florida — sow, transplant & harvest dates

Florida is mostly USDA zone 9b (range 8a-11b). Dates below are derived from chives's frost tolerance and Florida's frost window — not generic national averages.

Chives planting timetable for Florida

Stage	When in Florida	Anchor
Start seeds indoors (spring crop)	mid-January (January 14)	6 weeks before the last frost (late February (north) to no frost (south))
Transplant outside (spring crop)	mid-February (February 11)	-14 days after the last frost (late February (north) to no frost (south))
Spring-crop harvest	mid-April onward, before peak summer heat	60-day crop — finishes before mid-summer
Plant the fall crop	late September (September 26) — once the worst heat breaks	~80 days before the first fall frost (mid-December (north) to no frost (south))
Fall-crop harvest	late November into early winter	60-day crop — often the more productive of the two

Dates are state-wide averages for the dominant zone. Local microclimates — elevation, urban heat, coastal moderation — can shift the window by 1-2 weeks. Use the frost-date calculator for a date tuned to your town.

Why Florida's climate shifts the chives dates

Florida's long hot summer shuts down fruit set, so locals run two short crops — a spring planting and a fall planting — around a deliberate mid-summer pause, instead of one long northern-style season. Florida is the warmest state in the contiguous US, with subtropical to tropical conditions. The growing constraint is summer heat, humidity, and rain — not cold.

Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last spring frost; germination takes 7–14 days at 18–21 °C (65–70 °F), though seeds will germinate across a broad range of 15–35 °C (60–95 °F). As a cold-hardy perennial (zones 3–9), transplants can go out 1–2 weeks before the last frost once soil is workable — or direct-sow as soon as the ground can be worked in early spring. Begin snipping leaves about 30 days after transplanting (or ~60 days from seed) once plants reach 15 cm (6 in) tall; divide clumps every 3–4 years to maintain productivity.

Frost-risk note

A light frost in the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) can clip an early spring planting; the bigger risk is mid-summer heat sterilising flowers.

Regional variation within Florida

the Florida Keys (zone 11b) can start the spring crop weeks earlier and may garden almost year-round; the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) runs a shorter, more northern-style single season.

Miami — USDA zone 11a
Orlando — USDA zone 10a
Tampa — USDA zone 10a
Jacksonville — USDA zone 9a
Tallahassee — USDA zone 8b

What else to plant in Florida around then

Pair the spring slot with other heat-lovers (peppers, squash, beans); use the cool October–February window for greens and brassicas.

Quick-grow guide

Sun: Full sun to partial shade — 4–6+ hours direct.
Soil temperature for germination: 15–21 °C (60–70 °F).
Spacing: 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) between plants.
Days to harvest: ~60 days from planting out.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to plant chives in Florida?

In Florida (mostly USDA zone 9b), sow chives indoors around mid-January, set the spring crop out mid-February, harvest before peak summer heat, then plant a second crop late September for an autumn harvest. Avoid mid-summer. Chives are cold-hardy — they tolerate frost and actively prefer cool weather, so they go in well before the last spring frost and bolt in summer heat.

What USDA zone is Florida?

Most of Florida sits in USDA hardiness zone 9b, with the state spanning roughly 8a-11b from the western Panhandle near Tallahassee (zone 8a) to the Florida Keys (zone 11b). The last spring frost averages late February (north) to no frost (south) and the first fall frost mid-December (north) to no frost (south).

Can you grow chives in Florida?

Yes. Florida's dominant zone 9b supports chives — the key is timing. Chives are cold-hardy — they tolerate frost and actively prefer cool weather, so they go in well before the last spring frost and bolt in summer heat.

Does the planting date change across Florida?

What else can I plant in Florida around the same time?

Pair the spring slot with other heat-lovers (peppers, squash, beans); use the cool October–February window for greens and brassicas.

Source and methodology

State zone spans from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023); frost-date averages from NOAA Climate Data Online. Hot-state two-season timing cross-checked against the UF/IFAS Florida Gardening Calendar and the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension planting calendar. Curated by the Growli editorial team.