Local planting guide · Southeast
zip 32826
Orlando is in USDA hardiness zone 10a, with average winter lows of 30°F to 35°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/17 through 01/13 (~365 days). This zip falls within the Southeast growing region.
- USDA zone
- 10a 30°F to 35°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/17
- First fall frost
- 01/13
- Growing season
- 365 days
- Compatible crops
- 28
- Growing region
- Southeast
Right now in Orlando
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Orlando
Orlando sits in zone 10a, where average winter lows range from 30 to 35 degrees Fahrenheit. The last spring frost typically arrives around January 17, and the first fall frost around January 13, according to NOAA Climate Normals. This narrow frost window means the growing season stretches nearly year-round, with freezes rare but not impossible. The real constraint is not cold but heat and humidity. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 90 degrees Fahrenheit, and afternoon thunderstorms bring sudden moisture that favors fungal diseases. Crops suited to warm, humid climates thrive here: figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and goji berries produce reliably. Tender vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant grow in multiple seasons because frost is seldom severe. However, that year-round potential often misleads new gardeners into planting on their timeline rather than the climate's. The window for spring planting is narrow (January through early March before heat peaks), and summer heat will stress or stall growth on crops that elsewhere enjoy summer productivity. Fall and winter, by contrast, bring ideal conditions for growth and fruiting, making them the reliable seasons for most crops.
Regional context · Southeast
What the Southeast brings to Orlando
Hot, humid, long growing season. Disease-resistant variety selection is the difference between a productive and a failed planting. Strong region for muscadines, blueberries, peaches, persimmons, figs, and warm-season vegetables.
Common challenges
Issues that most often defeat home gardeners in zone 10a, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ No chilling for traditional temperate fruit
- ▸ Hurricane exposure
- ▸ Heat-tolerant cultivars only
What defeats new gardeners in Orlando
Three factors consistently defeat Orlando gardeners. First, the January frost window is deceptively mild on average but unpredictable in severity. A late-season cold snap can damage tender new growth or fruit buds on persimmons and figs just before harvest. Second, summer humidity and frequent afternoon thunderstorms create a perfect setup for fungal diseases: anthracnose on peppers, fungal leaf spots on figs, and damping-off in seedling trays. Fungicide applications become necessary in a way they might not in drier zones. Third, the heat itself limits options. Crops that produce reliably in zones 7 or 8 may refuse to set fruit when nighttime temperatures stay above 70 degrees. Tomatoes, for example, often drop flowers in June and July, only to recover in cooler September.
Crops that grow in Orlando
28 crops from our catalog match zone 10a, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
12 crops
zone 10a Fig
Ficus carica
zones 7a–10b
zone 10a Asian Persimmon
Diospyros kaki
zones 7a–10a
zone 10a Pomegranate
Punica granatum
zones 7b–10a
zone 10a Lemon
Citrus limon
zones 9a–11b
zone 10a Orange
Citrus sinensis
zones 9a–11b
zone 10a Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
zones 9b–11b
zone 10a Grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
zones 9a–11b
zone 10a Avocado
Persea americana
zones 9b–11b
Berries
3 crops
Nuts
1 crop
Vegetables
10 crops
zone 10a Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 10a Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 10a Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 10a Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 10a Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
zones 3b–10a
zone 10a Summer Squash
Cucurbita pepo
zones 3b–10a
zone 10a Melon
Cucumis melo
zones 5a–10a
zone 10a Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
zones 5b–10a
Herbs
2 crops
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Orlando
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Orlando's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Orlando, FL (zone 10a)
Quiet week in Orlando, FL (zone 10a). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
147 bars · 28 crops
Calendar logic combines NOAA frost normals with crop-specific timing data. Local microclimate and weather always overrules the calendar; use this as a starting point.
Top pests for zone 10a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for IPM controls and signs to watch for.
Pseudococcidae spp.
Soft white waxy insects that cluster at leaf joints, fruit stems, and root crowns. Honeydew secretion supports sooty mold; root mealybugs cause decline that mimics drought.
Meloidogyne species
Microscopic soil-dwelling worm that forms galls on roots, reducing vigor and yield.
Multiple species (Aphididae)
Small soft-bodied sap-sucking insects that reproduce explosively in spring. Excrete honeydew that supports sooty mold and attracts ants. Transmit viral diseases.
Multiple species (Aleyrodidae)
Tiny white moth-like flying insects that feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew. Transmit numerous viral diseases including tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
Coccoidea spp.
Sap-sucking insects that attach to bark, leaves, and fruit, secreting honeydew that fuels sooty mold. Heavy infestations weaken trees and cause leaf yellowing.
Tetranychus urticae
Tiny mite that feeds on leaf undersides, causing stippling and webbing during hot dry weather.
Ceratitis capitata
Quarantine pest in many regions. Adult females puncture ripening fruit to lay eggs; larvae tunnel through the flesh, causing premature drop and rot.
Multiple species (Chrysomelidae)
Tiny black or bronze jumping beetles that put hundreds of small holes in seedling leaves. Most damaging on direct-seeded brassicas and young eggplant.
Top diseases for zone 10a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for symptoms, controls, and resistant varieties.
Capnodium spp.
Black fungal coating that grows on honeydew secreted by aphids, scale, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Doesn't infect plant tissue directly but blocks photosynthesis and disfigures fruit.
Cucumber mosaic virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, and others
Family of plant viruses producing mottled yellow-and-green leaf patterns. Vectored primarily by aphids; some are seed-transmitted or spread by handling tools and tobacco products.
Calcium deficiency physiological disorder
Not a true disease but a calcium-uptake disorder caused by inconsistent soil moisture during fruit development. The dominant cause of damaged first-fruit on home tomato plantings.
Sclerotium rolfsii
Soil-borne fungal disease most damaging in warm humid Southern conditions. White mycelial fans and small mustard-seed-sized sclerotia at the soil line are diagnostic.
Pythium and Rhizoctonia species
Soil-borne complex of water molds and fungi that kill seedlings before or shortly after emergence. The single most common cause of seed-starting failures.
Fusarium oxysporum
Soil-borne fungal disease that plugs vascular tissue and kills affected plants. Persists in soil for many years; impossible to eliminate once established.
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Most damaging mango disease worldwide. Fungal spores infect blossoms and developing fruit during humid weather, producing black sunken lesions that expand on ripening fruit.
Multiple species (Erysiphales)
Surface-feeding fungal disease producing white powdery growth on leaves and stems. Reduces yield by stealing photosynthate and accelerating senescence.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 10a.
- Fig + Rosemary
Rosemary tolerates the dry sites figs prefer and provides aromatic pest deterrence.
- Tomato + Basil
The classic Italian pairing. Basil's volatile oils are reported to repel hornworms and whiteflies, and the two crops share the same warm-season schedule and water needs. Plant basil between tomato cages.
- Sweet Pepper + Basil
Same warm-season culture, same watering schedule. Basil reportedly improves pepper flavor and repels aphids and thrips that are pepper's primary pests.
- Hot Pepper + Basil
Compatible heat-loving culture, similar water needs. Basil interplanted between hot pepper plants supports beneficial insects and reduces aphid pressure.
- Okra + Hot Pepper
Both heat-loving warm-season crops with similar water and fertility needs. Hot pepper at okra's base benefits from the slight afternoon shade in extreme summer heat.
Soil types reference
Soil texture and pH decide what grows easily on your specific lot. Find the closest match below for crop recommendations and amendment guidance.
Practical tips for Orlando
Tomato seeds started indoors in August will produce fall crops (September through November), a much more reliable approach than spring sowings that typically struggle through summer heat. The last spring frost date of January 17 permits outdoor sowing in late January, but summer heat arrives by May. Frost-sensitive crops like figs and Asian persimmons benefit from row cover or frost cloth applied in early January before the frost risk window closes; the average minimum of 32 degrees is survivable for dormant wood but hazardous for actively growing tissue or emerging flowers. Fall and winter serve as the primary growing seasons in Orlando. The September-through-April window offers temperatures and humidity favorable for most crops, while summer requires maintenance mode to keep plants alive, manage diseases, and wait for cooler months.
Frequently asked questions
- What crops grow best year-round in Orlando?
Figs, Asian persimmons, pomegranates, and goji berries are well-suited to the warm zone 10a climate. Tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant can be grown in succession but perform best in fall and winter rather than summer.
- When is the best time to plant tomatoes in Orlando?
August for fall/winter production (harvest September through November), or late January for spring attempts that will stall once heat arrives in May. Fall planting is more reliable for mature fruit.
- Can frost damage crops in Orlando?
Yes, though hard freezes are rare. The last spring frost averages January 17 and first fall frost around January 13 (NOAA Climate Normals), so frost risk is brief. Tender growth on figs, persimmons, and citrus can be damaged by occasional cold snaps. Frost cloth protection in early January is a reasonable precaution.
- How do I manage summer heat and humidity?
Provide afternoon shade for heat-sensitive crops (30% shade cloth June through August). Water consistently; afternoon thunderstorms may not provide adequate moisture. Hand-water deeply 2 to 3 times weekly and monitor for fungal disease, applying preventive fungicides to peppers and other susceptible crops.
- Is fall or spring better for starting a garden in Orlando?
Fall (August through November) is vastly superior. Cooler temperatures and lower humidity favor germination, growth, and fruit set. Spring planting (January through March) works but gives crops only a narrow window before summer heat limits productivity.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012841. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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