Local planting guide · Southeast
zip 33906
Fort Myers is in USDA hardiness zone 10b, with average winter lows of 35°F to 40°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/16 through 01/13 (~365 days). This zip falls within the Southeast growing region.
- USDA zone
- 10b 35°F to 40°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/16
- First fall frost
- 01/13
- Growing season
- 365 days
- Compatible crops
- 23
- Growing region
- Southeast
Right now in Fort Myers
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Fort Myers
Fort Myers sits in USDA zone 10b, where winter lows rarely drop below 35°F. The last recorded spring frost is January 16, and the first fall frost is January 13, creating a growing season of essentially 365 days. However, the year-round designation masks a seasonally inverted planting calendar. From June through August, afternoon temperatures routinely exceed 90°F with 80% humidity, making this the dominant constraint. Cool-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, and leafy greens thrive in the cooler winter months (December through April), while summer gardening focuses on heat-tolerant perennials and tropical crops. Fig, basil, and rosemary handle the full year well. The sandy soil and frequent summer thunderstorms require attention to drainage and fungal disease prevention. Fort Myers gardeners often reverse the typical US planting rhythm: the cool season is the productive season.
Regional context · Southeast
What the Southeast brings to Fort Myers
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 10b, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ No winter chill
- ▸ Tropical pest and disease pressure
- ▸ Saltwater intrusion in coastal soils
What defeats new gardeners in Fort Myers
The three biggest obstacles are summer heat, fungal disease, and occasional winter freeze. From June through August, temperatures above 90°F shut down tomato pollination and cause lettuce and spinach to bolt immediately. Most gardeners shift these crops to fall planting (August through September) for a winter-to-spring harvest. Second, the combination of 80%+ humidity and afternoon thunderstorms creates ideal conditions for powdery mildew, septoria leaf spot, and anthracnose, particularly on peppers, eggplants, and herbs. Air circulation and fungicide applications become routine in summer. Third, while January frost is rare, the January 13 first-frost date marks a genuine freeze risk. Tender perennials like basil and rosemary can suffer if exposed to sustained temperatures in the mid-30s. Most gardeners protect these with frost cloth or relocate to shelter.
Crops that grow in Fort Myers
23 crops from our catalog match zone 10b, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
12 crops
zone 10b Fig
Ficus carica
zones 7a–10b
zone 10b Lemon
Citrus limon
zones 9a–11b
zone 10b Orange
Citrus sinensis
zones 9a–11b
zone 10b Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
zones 9b–11b
zone 10b Grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
zones 9a–11b
zone 10b Mango
Mangifera indica
zones 10b–13b
zone 10b Avocado
Persea americana
zones 9b–11b
zone 10b Banana
Musa acuminata
zones 9b–13b
Berries
2 crops
Nuts
1 crop
Vegetables
6 crops
zone 10b Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 10b Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 10b Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 10b Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 10b Sweet Potato
Ipomoea batatas
zones 6a–10b
zone 10b Okra
Abelmoschus esculentus
zones 6a–10b
Herbs
2 crops
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Fort Myers
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Fort Myers's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Fort Myers, FL (zone 10b)
Quiet week in Fort Myers, FL (zone 10b). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
128 bars · 23 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 10b
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.
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.
Meloidogyne species
Microscopic soil-dwelling worm that forms galls on roots, reducing vigor and yield.
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.
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.
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.
Top diseases for zone 10b
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.
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.
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.
Verticillium dahliae
Soil-borne fungal disease similar to fusarium wilt but with broader host range and cooler temperature optimum. Persists in soil for 10+ years.
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.
Xanthomonas euvesicatoria and X. perforans
Bacterial disease causing leaf spots and fruit blemishes on pepper and tomato. Severe in warm humid weather, transmitted via splashing water and seed.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 10b.
- 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 Fort Myers
First, treat tomato planting as a dual-season operation. Plant in August through September for a robust winter-to-spring harvest (January through May when night temperatures favor fruit set). Spring plantings rarely produce in Fort Myers due to the June heat. Second, use 30 to 50% shade cloth from June through August to extend the season for heat-sensitive crops like lettuce, basil, and certain pepper varieties. This technique prevents bolting and keeps flavor profiles sharper than full-sun summer crops. Third, embrace the tropical crops that thrive year-round: figs, sweet potatoes, rosemary, and eggplant are far more predictable in Fort Myers than in northern zones. These fill the calendar gaps when tomato and pepper seasons end.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow in Fort Myers?
Year-round growers include figs, rosemary, eggplant, and sweet potatoes. Winter crops (December through April) perform best for tomatoes, peppers, and basil, taking advantage of cooler temperatures and lower humidity. Summer production shifts to heat-tolerant varieties and perennials, as temperatures above 90°F cause stress.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Fort Myers?
Plant in August or early September for a winter-to-spring harvest. Night temperatures begin dropping in late September, which favors pollination and fruit set through spring. Spring plantings rarely produce fruit before summer heat shuts down flowering.
- How often does Fort Myers experience frost?
Frost is rare but possible. The first recorded frost date is January 13, and the last is January 16, compressing the cold risk into mid-January. Most winters escape frost entirely, but occasionally a hard freeze in the mid-30s can injure tender perennials and new growth.
- What's the biggest challenge for gardeners in Fort Myers?
Summer heat and humidity. Temperatures regularly exceed 90°F from June through August, combined with 80%+ humidity and frequent thunderstorms. This creates ideal conditions for fungal diseases and causes tomato pollination failure. Most vegetables are grown in the cooler months instead.
- Is the sandy soil a problem?
Sandy soil drains quickly, which can be an advantage for disease prevention but requires frequent watering and regular amendments. Work in compost regularly to improve water and nutrient retention, particularly before planting heat-sensitive crops.
- Can I actually garden year-round?
Technically yes, but practically the gardening calendar is divided. December through April is peak vegetable season. June through August focuses on heat-tolerant perennials and tropical crops. September and October are recovery months before the cool season restarts.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00012835. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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