Deltona, Florida: planting zone & frost dates
Deltona is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C). The typical last spring frost is around Feb 6 and the first fall frost around Jan 2.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Feb 24 | Dec 20 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Feb 6 | Jan 2 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 26 | Jan 12 |
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 SANFORD, FL (USC00087982), 7.5 mi (12.0 km) from the city center and 3 ft lower than the city center (-1 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 28 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Deltona
All 3 ZIP codes covering Deltona are in zone 9b.
Vegetable planting calendar for Deltona
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Feb 6, first frost Jan 2). 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 12 – Dec 26 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Jan 23 – Feb 13 | Jan 9 – Feb 20 | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Feb 13 – Mar 20 | Oct 10 – Oct 24 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Feb 13 – Mar 13 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Feb 13 – Mar 6 | Oct 10 – Oct 24 |
| Cucumber | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | Feb 20 – Feb 27 | Feb 13 – Mar 6 | Oct 10 – Oct 24 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 16 – Feb 20 | Oct 10 – Oct 24 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Jan 9 – Jan 30 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | Feb 20 – Mar 13 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 26 – Jan 23 | Nov 7 – Dec 5 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Jan 9 – Jan 30 | Jan 9 – Jan 30 | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Jan 23 – Feb 13 | — | Oct 10 – Oct 24 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | Oct 24 – Nov 7 |
| Eggplant | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | Oct 10 – Oct 24 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 2 – Feb 20 | Nov 21 – Dec 19 |
| Strawberry | — | Jan 9 – Jan 30 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 16 – Feb 27 | Oct 24 – Nov 7 |
Nearby cities in Florida
- Daytona Beach — zone 9b, last frost Feb 9, first frost Dec 29
- Orlando — zone 10a, last frost Feb 4, first frost Jan 1
- Palm Coast — zone 9b, last frost Feb 2, first frost Jan 1
- Kissimmee — zone 10a, last frost Feb 6, first frost Dec 30
- Melbourne — zone 10a, last frost Feb 5, first frost Jan 1
- Palm Bay — zone 10a, last frost Jan 30, first frost Jan 6
More: all Florida cities · other zone 9b cities: Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, San Jose, CA, Fresno, CA, Sacramento, CA, Mesa, AZ, Bakersfield, CA
Deltona gardening questions
When is the last frost in Deltona, FL?
Plan around Feb 6. At NOAA's Sanford, FL station, 7.5 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 26, and after Feb 24 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Jan 13. Springs here are erratic: 55 days separate the 90% and 10% dates, versus a median of 36 days for cities on this site, so watch the forecast rather than the calendar.
When should I plant tomatoes in Deltona, FL?
Start seeds indoors Dec 12 – Dec 26 and set transplants outside Feb 13 – Feb 27, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 330 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 Deltona?
About 359 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 318 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Dec 20 and a 30% chance by Jan 2. That ranks 10th longest of 20 Florida cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Deltona?
Count back from the first fall frost (Jan 2): transplant broccoli Oct 10 – Oct 24; sow kale Oct 24 – Nov 21; sow lettuce Oct 24 – Nov 21; sow radishes Nov 21 – Dec 19. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Jan 11. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Deltona's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Deltona is zone 9b 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 Deltona compare with Daytona Beach, FL?
Both are in zone 9b. The typical last spring frost in Deltona (Feb 6) comes about the same time as in Daytona Beach, FL (Feb 9), 21 miles away, and the first fall frost is Jan 2 versus Dec 29. The two cities use different NOAA stations.