Boynton Beach, Florida: planting zone & frost dates
Boynton Beach is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 35 to 40°F (1.7 to 4.4°C). The typical last spring frost is around Jan 31 and the first fall frost around Jan 7.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Feb 7 | Dec 31 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 31 | Jan 7 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 22 | Jan 17 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station LOXAHATCHEE NWR, FL (USC00085184), 8.6 mi (13.9 km) from the city center and 10 ft higher than the city center (+3 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 26 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Boynton Beach
All 3 ZIP codes covering Boynton Beach are in zone 10b.
Vegetable planting calendar for Boynton Beach
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 31, first frost Jan 7). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Jan 17 – Feb 7 | Jan 3 – Feb 14 | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Feb 7 – Mar 14 | Oct 15 – Oct 29 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Feb 7 – Mar 7 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Jan 3 – Jan 10 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | Feb 7 – Feb 28 | Oct 15 – Oct 29 |
| Cucumber | Jan 3 – Jan 10 | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | Feb 7 – Feb 28 | Oct 15 – Oct 29 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 10 – Feb 14 | Oct 15 – Oct 29 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 8 – Nov 22 | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Jan 3 – Jan 24 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Feb 14 – Mar 7 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 20 – Jan 17 | Nov 12 – Dec 10 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Jan 3 – Jan 24 | Jan 3 – Jan 24 | Oct 29 – Nov 26 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Jan 17 – Feb 7 | — | Oct 15 – Oct 29 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 20 – Jan 10 | Oct 29 – Nov 12 |
| Eggplant | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | Oct 15 – Oct 29 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 27 – Feb 14 | Nov 26 – Dec 24 |
| Strawberry | — | Jan 3 – Jan 24 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 10 – Feb 21 | Oct 29 – Nov 12 |
Nearby cities in Florida
- Boca Raton — zone 11a, frost rare
- Deerfield Beach — zone 11a, frost rare
- West Palm Beach — zone 10b, frost rare
- Pompano Beach — zone 11a, frost rare
- Coral Springs — zone 10b, frost rare
- Fort Lauderdale — zone 11a, frost rare
More: all Florida cities · other zone 10b cities: San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Long Beach, CA, Anaheim, CA, Irvine, CA, Santa Ana, CA, Chula Vista, CA, St. Petersburg, FL
Boynton Beach gardening questions
When is the last frost in Boynton Beach, FL?
Plan around Jan 31. At NOAA's Loxahatchee Nwr, FL station, 8.6 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Jan 22, and after Feb 7 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. The 90% and 10% dates are 38 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Boynton Beach, FL?
Start seeds indoors Dec 6 – Dec 20 and set transplants outside Feb 7 – Feb 21, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 341 frost-free days, frost is not the main limit — fruit set drops when nights stay above about 75°F, so early plantings tend to do best. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Boynton Beach?
About 365 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 364 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Dec 31 and a 30% chance by Jan 7. That ranks 8th longest of 20 Florida cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Boynton Beach?
Count back from the first fall frost (Jan 7): transplant broccoli Oct 15 – Oct 29; sow kale Oct 29 – Nov 26; sow lettuce Oct 29 – Nov 26; sow radishes Nov 26 – Dec 24. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Boynton Beach's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Boynton Beach is zone 10b on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
How does Boynton Beach compare with Boca Raton, FL?
Boynton Beach is zone 10b and Boca Raton is zone 11a. Frost is rare in Boca Raton, but Boynton Beach (11 miles away) has a typical last frost around Jan 31 — see Boca Raton, FL.