USDA hardiness zone lookup
Pensacola, FL — USDA Zone 9a
Pensacola, Florida · 266-day growing season
Frost dates and growing season in Pensacola
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9a |
|---|---|
| Average last spring frost | March 1 |
| Average first fall frost | November 22 |
| Growing season length | ~266 days |
| Temperature range (F) | 20 to 30°F |
| Temperature range (C) | -7 to -1°C |
All of Pensacola's mapped ZIP codes fall in the same hardiness band, Zone 9a.
These are 50%-probability averages modeled from Pensacola's USDA hardiness zone and regional climate normals — not a single-station reading. In a typical year the last spring frost will have passed by March 1, but a colder-than-average year can run 1-2 weeks later. Plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) once both soil and night temperatures are consistently warm — a thermometer beats the calendar.
Growing season in Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida sits in USDA Zone 9a, with roughly 266 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around March 1 and a first fall frost around November 22. That is a near year-round season — the limiting factor is summer heat, not frost, so schedule cool-season crops for winter and protect tender ones from extreme highs.
What grows in Pensacola
Pensacola falls in USDA Zone 9a, so the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 9 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 9a (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.
- Tomatoes (year-round in many areas)
- Peppers (all year)
- Citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit)
- Avocado
- Mango (warmer areas)
- Banana
- Sweet potatoes
- Okra
- Southern peas
- Pomegranates
What to plant in Pensacola this week
Pensacola is in high summer — most spring plantings are in. Keep an eye on watering and start planning your fall crop. Cool-season seedlings (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce) can be started indoors for a fall transplant.
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 9
- When to plant peppers in zone 9
- When to plant bush beans in zone 9
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 9
- When to plant basil in zone 9
Full planting calendar for Pensacola
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 9 averages:
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 9
- When to plant peppers in zone 9
- When to plant basil in zone 9
- When to plant garlic in zone 9
- When to plant lettuce in zone 9
- When to plant bush beans in zone 9
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 9
- When to plant summer squash in zone 9
- When to plant peas in zone 9
- When to plant carrots in zone 9
ZIP codes in Pensacola
Drill down to the precise frost window and planting calendar for a specific ZIP in Pensacola:
Local microclimate notes
Zone tables give you the average — but Pensacolagardens vary. South-facing walls and paved areas can run a full half-zone warmer than the published rating. Low-lying spots, frost pockets, and shaded north sides can run colder. If you've gardened here a few seasons, your own frost record — the last time you actually got frost damage — beats any national average.
Source and methodology
Hardiness zone from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Frost-date and growing-season figures are modeled from Pensacola's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations draw on US Cooperative Extension references, curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed June 2026.
Other cities in Florida
- Apopka, FL — USDA Zone 9b
- Bradenton, FL — USDA Zone 10a
- Brooksville, FL — USDA Zone 9a
- Cape Coral, FL — USDA Zone 10a
- Clearwater, FL — USDA Zone 10a
- Coral Springs, FL — USDA Zone 10b
- Daytona Beach, FL — USDA Zone 9b
- Fernandina Beach, FL — USDA Zone 9a
- Fort Lauderdale, FL — USDA Zone 10b
- Fort Myers, FL — USDA Zone 10a
- Gainesville, FL — USDA Zone 9a
- Hialeah, FL — USDA Zone 10b
- All of Florida by zone