USDA hardiness zone lookup
Key West (33040) — USDA Zone 12a
Key West, Florida · 365-day growing season
Frost dates and growing season for 33040
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 12a |
|---|---|
| Average last spring frost | no frost |
| Average first fall frost | no frost |
| Growing season length | ~365 days |
| Temperature range (F) | 50 to 60°F |
| Temperature range (C) | 10 to 16°C |
These are 50%-probability averages modeled from this ZIP'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 no frost, but in a colder-than-average year it 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 Key West
Key West, Florida sits in USDA Zone 12a, with roughly 365 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around no frost and a first fall frost around no frost. 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 Key West
Key West falls in USDA Zone 12a, which means the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 12 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 12a (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.
- Mango, papaya, banana, breadfruit
- Cacao
- Coffee (mid-elevation)
- Coconut
- Pineapple
- Tropical greens
- Hot peppers
- Sweet potatoes
- Cassava
- Tropical herbs
What to plant in Key West this week
Warm-season tropicals do well in Key West right now. Watch for midsummer heat stress on tomatoes — short-day varieties or shade cloth help.
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 12
- When to plant peppers in zone 12
- When to plant basil in zone 12
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 12
- When to plant summer squash in zone 12
Full planting calendar for Key West
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 12 averages:
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 12
- When to plant peppers in zone 12
- When to plant basil in zone 12
- When to plant bush beans in zone 12
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 12
- When to plant summer squash in zone 12
Local microclimate notes
Zone tables give you the average — but Key Westgardens 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) is more accurate than 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 this ZIP's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — they are zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations are drawn from US Cooperative Extension references and curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed May 2026.
Nearby ZIP codes in Florida
- 33101 — Miami (Zone 11a)
- 33139 — Miami Beach (Zone 11a)
- 33308 — Fort Lauderdale (Zone 10b)
- 33401 — West Palm Beach (Zone 10b)
- 33602 — Tampa (Zone 10a)
- 33701 — St. Petersburg (Zone 10a)
- 32801 — Orlando (Zone 9b)
- 32202 — Jacksonville (Zone 9a)
- 32301 — Tallahassee (Zone 9a)
- 34108 — Naples (Zone 10b)
- 34601 — Brooksville (Zone 9a)
- 33990 — Cape Coral (Zone 10a)
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