Largo, Florida: planting zone & frost dates
Largo is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 30 to 35°F (-1.1 to 1.7°C). The typical last spring frost is around Jan 26 and the first fall frost around Jan 6.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Feb 6 | Dec 27 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 26 | Jan 6 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 17 | Jan 14 |
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 ST PETERSBURG INTL AP, FL (USW00012873), 5.3 mi (8.5 km) from the city center and 3 ft higher than the city center (+1 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 17 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Largo
Largo spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 8 ZIP codes): 10a (88%), 10b (12%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
Vegetable planting calendar for Largo
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 26, first frost Jan 6). 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 1 – Dec 15 | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 17 – Dec 1 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 15 – Dec 29 | Jan 12 – Feb 2 | Dec 29 – Feb 9 | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Feb 2 – Mar 9 | Oct 14 – Oct 28 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Feb 2 – Mar 2 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Dec 29 – Jan 5 | Feb 2 – Feb 16 | Feb 2 – Feb 23 | Oct 14 – Oct 28 |
| Cucumber | Dec 29 – Jan 5 | Feb 9 – Feb 16 | Feb 2 – Feb 23 | Oct 14 – Oct 28 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 5 – Feb 9 | Oct 14 – Oct 28 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 3 – Nov 17 | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Dec 29 – Jan 19 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 15 – Dec 29 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Feb 9 – Mar 2 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 15 – Jan 12 | Nov 11 – Dec 9 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 1 – Dec 15 | Dec 29 – Jan 19 | Dec 29 – Jan 19 | Oct 28 – Nov 25 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 1 – Dec 15 | Jan 12 – Feb 2 | — | Oct 14 – Oct 28 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 15 – Jan 5 | Oct 28 – Nov 11 |
| Eggplant | Nov 17 – Dec 1 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 1 – Dec 15 | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | — | Oct 14 – Oct 28 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 22 – Feb 9 | Nov 25 – Dec 23 |
| Strawberry | — | Dec 29 – Jan 19 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 5 – Feb 16 | Oct 28 – Nov 11 |
Nearby cities in Florida
- Clearwater — zone 10a, last frost Jan 26, first frost Jan 6
- St. Petersburg — zone 10b, last frost Jan 28, first frost Jan 7
- Tampa — zone 10a, last frost Jan 31, first frost Jan 3
- Lakeland — zone 10a, last frost Feb 3, first frost Jan 1
- North Port — zone 10a, last frost Feb 11, first frost Dec 28
- Kissimmee — zone 10a, last frost Feb 6, first frost Dec 30
More: all Florida cities · other zone 10a cities: Los Angeles, CA, Oakland, CA, Tampa, FL, Orlando, FL, Riverside, CA, Corpus Christi, TX, Port St. Lucie, FL, Scottsdale, AZ
Largo gardening questions
When is the last frost in Largo, FL?
Plan around Jan 26. At NOAA's St Petersburg Int'l Airport, FL station, 5.3 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 17, and after Feb 6 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. The 90% and 10% dates are 36 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Largo, FL?
Start seeds indoors Dec 1 – Dec 15 and set transplants outside Feb 2 – Feb 16, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 345 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 Largo?
About 365 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 345 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Dec 27 and a 30% chance by Jan 6. That ranks 9th longest of 20 Florida cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Largo?
Count back from the first fall frost (Jan 6): transplant broccoli Oct 14 – Oct 28; sow kale Oct 28 – Nov 25; sow lettuce Oct 28 – Nov 25; sow radishes Nov 25 – Dec 23. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Largo's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Largo is zone 10a 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.
Is all of Largo in zone 10a?
No. Zone 10a covers about 88% of the city's land; the rest is in 10b (12%), measured across the city's 8 ZIP codes. Check your own ZIP code in the table above or with the ZIP lookup.