Fall in zone 11bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 33043 (Big Pine Key, FL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Royal Palm Rs, FL (65 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 18% of years (about 1 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
Use with caution
The nearest station is far away or at a very different elevation, so local dates may differ a lot.
- Average last spring frostJan 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 17 (next year)50% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)year-round in a typical yearmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone11b45 to 50°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 33043 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring late January to mid-February (south Florida: earlier; check local soil temps); fall October to early November.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Gulf Coast and peninsular Florida. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- St. Augustinegrass (warm-season): Spring: About 2–3 weeks after full green-up (May in the Carolinas; earlier in Florida and south Texas) (about Feb 28 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Light feedings June–August where local rules allow; Last: No later than about mid-September in the Carolinas, about 6–8 weeks before first frost elsewhere. Avoid: Feeding before green-up or late in fall (feeds weeds and favors large patch and cold injury).
Plant now
- Tomato: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Pepper (sweet and hot): fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 18
- Eggplant: fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 18
- Kale: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Collards: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Broccoli: fall transplant Oct 11–Nov 8
- Cabbage: fall transplant Oct 11–Nov 8
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Oct 11–Nov 8
- Brussels sprouts: fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 18
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall sowing Nov 8–Dec 6
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 25–Nov 22
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 25–Nov 22
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Nov 8–22
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Nov 8–22
- Beet: fall sowing Nov 8–22
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 25–Nov 8
- Turnip: fall sowing Nov 8–22
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 25–Nov 8
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Nov 8–22
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Jan 1 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 18 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Dec 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 17 (next year) |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 17 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jan 28 | Jan 16 (next year) |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 20 | Jan 17 (next year) |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | n/a | n/a |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 33043
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 20) and first fall frost (Jan 17). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 11–25 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 18 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 11–25 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 18 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 30–Jan 20 (transplant) Dec 23–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Nov 22–Dec 13 (transplant) Nov 8–Dec 6 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 22–Dec 13 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 23–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 22 (transplant) Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 23–Jan 20 (transplant) Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 22 (transplant) Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 11–25 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 11–25 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 11–25 | Jan 6–20 (transplant) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 18 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 23–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 22–Dec 6 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Nov 22–Dec 20 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 23–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Nov 22–Dec 6 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 9–23 | Jan 6–27 (transplant) Jan 6–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Nov 8–22 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Nov 8–22 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 30–Jan 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 16–Jan 27 (sow outdoors) | Dec 6–20 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 23–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Nov 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 30–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 25–Dec 23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 9–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 8–22 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 23–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 23–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 23–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 23–30 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 23–30 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 9–23 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Jan 27–Feb 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 9–23 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 6–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Nov 22–Dec 6 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 11–25 | Jan 6–20 (transplant) Dec 30–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Nov 22–Dec 6 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Nov 8–Dec 6 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Florida has a university or garden plant program: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide. Plant frost-tender annuals after January 20 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Royal Palm Rs, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00087760), elevation 7 ft, 64.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Perrine 4W, FL | 81 mi | Jan 18 | Jan 13 (next year) |
| Everglades, FL | 82 mi | Jan 16 | Jan 14 (next year) |
| Oasis Rs, FL | 84 mi | Jan 18 | Jan 16 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 4 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 33043
When is the last frost in 33043?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 33043 is January 20. For a more cautious planting date, use February 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 33043?
The average first fall freeze is January 17 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 29.
What hardiness zone is 33043?
ZIP 33043 is in USDA zone 11b (45 to 50°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 33043 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
33042 Cudjoe Key 33051 Key Colony Beach 33050 Marathon 33001 Layton 33036 Islamorada, Village of Islands 33040 Key West 33070 Tavernier 33034 Florida City
Other ZIP codes in Monroe County
33001 33036 33037 33040 33042 33050 33051 33070 All Monroe County frost dates · Florida frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.