Local planting guide · Southeast
zip 33023
Hollywood is in USDA hardiness zone 11a, with average winter lows of 40°F to 45°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/24 through 01/20 (~365 days). This zip falls within the Southeast growing region.
- USDA zone
- 11a 40°F to 45°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/24
- First fall frost
- 01/20
- Growing season
- 365 days
- Compatible crops
- 15
- Growing region
- Southeast
Gardening in Hollywood
Hollywood, located in zone 11a, sits in South Florida's subtropical climate where the primary frost risk comes in winter, not spring. The last spring frost typically arrives by January 24, and the first fall frost doesn't appear until January 20 (NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020). This frost timeline inverts the conventional frost calendar familiar to northern gardeners, where spring frost protection is the norm.
Citrus thrives here, with lemons, limes, oranges, and grapefruits performing reliably year-round. Tropical fruits like mangoes, avocados, bananas, and papayas flourish in the warmth and humidity, producing crops that seldom succeed in cooler zones. The 365-day growing season allows succession planting of heat-loving vegetables and herbs in multiple cycles, with winter becoming a secondary cool-season opportunity rather than a dormancy window.
The dominant constraint is not growing season length but winter cold snaps (40-45°F minimum temperatures can damage tender tropicals) and tropical storm systems that arrive in summer and fall. High humidity year-round supports both vigorous plant growth and fungal disease pressure, requiring careful attention to site selection and air circulation. Salt spray from coastal storms can also damage foliage and fruit quality.
Regional context · Southeast
What the Southeast brings to Hollywood
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 11a, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ No temperate fruit potential
- ▸ Year-round pest pressure
- ▸ Specialized crop selection
What defeats new gardeners in Hollywood
Winter frost events, though infrequent, present the sharpest threat to tender tropical trees like mangoes and avocados; a single night below 40°F can defoliate young trees or kill flower buds needed for next season's crop. June through November brings hurricane and tropical storm season, with high winds snapping branches, uprooting newly planted specimens, and saturating soil with saltwater that damages inland gardens.
High humidity and year-round warmth create ideal conditions for fungal diseases, particularly anthracnose on mangoes, sooty mold on citrus, and powdery mildew on avocados. Disease pressure is constant, not seasonal, requiring active management through pruning for airflow and appropriate fungicide timing.
Crops that grow in Hollywood
15 crops from our catalog match zone 11a, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
12 crops
zone 11a Lemon
Citrus limon
zones 9a–11b
zone 11a Orange
Citrus sinensis
zones 9a–11b
zone 11a Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
zones 9b–11b
zone 11a Grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
zones 9a–11b
zone 11a Mango
Mangifera indica
zones 10b–13b
zone 11a Avocado
Persea americana
zones 9b–11b
zone 11a Banana
Musa acuminata
zones 9b–13b
zone 11a Papaya
Carica papaya
zones 10a–13b
Berries
2 crops
Nuts
1 crop
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Hollywood
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Hollywood's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Hollywood, FL (zone 11a)
Quiet week in Hollywood, FL (zone 11a). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
97 bars · 15 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 11a
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.
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.
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.
Anastrepha suspensa
Tropical fruit fly endemic to Florida and the Caribbean. Less aggressive on commercial citrus than Mediterranean fruit fly, but devastating on guava, carambola, and other thin-skinned tropicals.
Phyllocnistis citrella
Tiny moth larvae tunnel inside young citrus leaves, leaving silvery serpentine trails. Damage is mostly cosmetic on mature trees but stunts new plantings.
Top diseases for zone 11a
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.
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.
Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus
Devastating bacterial disease vectored by the Asian citrus psyllid. Once infected, trees decline progressively over several years and there is no cure. Has destroyed commercial citrus across Florida and threatens production worldwide.
Xanthomonas citri
Bacterial disease producing raised corky lesions on leaves, twigs, and fruit. Spread by wind-driven rain and contaminated tools. Quarantine-regulated in many areas.
Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cubense
Soil-borne fungus that colonizes banana root and vascular tissue, causing irreversible wilt. Tropical Race 4 is currently spreading globally and threatens the Cavendish industry. Survives in soil for decades.
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 Hollywood
Winter frost protection is critical December through mid-January when overnight temperatures approach 40°F. Container plants should be positioned against south-facing walls or under temporary frost cloth. Newly established in-ground mangoes and avocados require protection during January frosts; mature specimens tolerate cold spells better.
Airflow prevents fungal disease pressure. Orchard layout should prioritize maximum sunlight and air circulation to reduce humidity pockets where anthracnose on mangoes, sooty mold on citrus, and powdery mildew on avocados develop. Trees spaced 12 feet apart maintain better air movement than dense planting.
Succession planting maximizes the year-round season. Heat-loving vegetables and herbs should be planted in February, May, and August rather than spring-only timing. The 365-day growing season permits three full rotations per year for crops like basil, okra, and eggplant. January suits cool-season crops like lettuce and chard instead.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops for Hollywood?
Citrus (lemons, oranges, limes, grapefruits) and tropical fruits (mangoes, avocados, bananas, papayas) thrive in zone 11a. Heat-loving vegetables like okra, eggplant, sweet potato, and basil produce reliably. Cool-season crops like lettuce and chard grow well during mild winter months (December through February).
- When do I start tomatoes in Hollywood?
Grow tomatoes as a cool-season crop (October through February), not spring, because year-round heat and fungal disease pressure make summer tomatoes unreliable. Start seeds indoors in August for September transplanting; harvest begins in December.
- What's the biggest weather threat in Hollywood?
Winter frost events (December through January) threaten tender tropicals like mangoes and avocados. Hurricane and tropical storm season (June through November) brings wind damage and salt spray. High humidity year-round supports fungal diseases.
- How often does frost occur in Hollywood?
According to NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, the last spring frost averages January 24 and the first fall frost appears January 20. Frost occurs roughly 1 to 3 years out of every 10, with temperatures dropping to 40-45°F.
- Can I grow citrus year-round in Hollywood?
Yes. Citrus flowers and sets fruit in spring, with fruit developing through fall and winter. Harvest occurs November through April. Citrus tolerates the mild winter frosts that damage tender tropicals.
- Do I need a greenhouse in Hollywood?
A greenhouse is optional for winter cool-season crops but not necessary for tropical and citrus production. A small cold frame or frost cloth storage is practical for protecting newly established trees during January frosts.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00092826. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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