Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Fort Walton Beach, FL

Fort Walton Beach, FL is in USDA zone 9a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 5 and the first fall frost December 28.

Fort Walton Beach on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostFeb 5
First frostDec 28
Growing season321 days

9a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fort Walton Beach, FL…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Fort Walton Beach, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 5median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 28median — 10% chance by Dec 1
Growing season321 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 27 and returns around January 7.

From the NOAA station Destin Ft Walton Airport, FL, elevation 23 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Fort Walton Beach

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 25 – Jan 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 25 – Jan 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 27 – Dec 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 15 – Jan 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 11 – Dec 25
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 27 – Dec 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 19 – Mar 5
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Nov 2 – Nov 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 14 – Jan 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 5) and first fall frost (Dec 28) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 32549 came on Jan 16 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 9a in Florida

473 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Florida, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 66

American basswood100 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican beech80 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −44 °FAmerican chestnut115 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican elm120 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −46 °FAmerican sycamore100 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −34 °FAtlantic white cedar50 ft · blooms spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °F

Shrubs 113

aloe yucca15 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −1 °Falternateleaf dogwood25 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −47 °FAmerican beautyberry6 ft · blooms early summer · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °FAmerican holly40 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −20 °FAmerican hornbeam30 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −34 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 143

American bur-reed3 ft · blooms indeterminate · medium shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °FAmerican eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican lotus3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −36 °FAmerican pokeweed7 ft · blooms mid summer · low shade tolerance · to −33 °FAmerican spongeplant0.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −24 °F

Grasses 131

American cupscale3 ft · blooms early summer · high shade tolerance · to −18 °Fautumn bluegrass1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °Fawlfruit sedge4 ft · blooms mid spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Fbeaked spikerush3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −28 °Fbig bluestem6 ft · blooms summer · high shade tolerance · to −46 °Fbig cordgrass8 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −3 °F

Vines 12

American wisteria50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fcatbird grape30 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −13 °Fcupseed30 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −3 °Fdevil's darning needles15 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °Ffrost grape83 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −23 °Fgraybark grape50 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −8 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Fort Walton Beach, FL.

Soil in Fort Walton Beach, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32549 is Lakeland — sand, excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.9strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lakeland sand, 0 to 5 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 32549; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Walton Beach, FL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low45 °Faverage low, January
Hot days50days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights6nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,355base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 11 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation63.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 63 °F, low 45 °F 63°45° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 48 °F 66°48° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 54 °F 71°54° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 60 °F 76°60° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 68 °F 84°68° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 74 °F 89°74° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 76 °F 91°76° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 76 °F 91°76° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 72 °F 89°72° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 63 °F 81°63° OctNovember: average high 72 °F, low 53 °F 72°53° NovDecember: average high 66 °F, low 48 °F 66°48° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 JanFebruary: 5.73 in precipitation 5.7 FebMarch: 4.91 in precipitation 4.9 MarApril: 5.72 in precipitation 5.7 AprMay: 3.24 in precipitation 3.2 MayJune: 6.38 in precipitation 6.4 JunJuly: 6.50 in precipitation 6.5 JulAugust: 7.49 in precipitation 7.5 AugSeptember: 5.39 in precipitation 5.4 SepOctober: 3.91 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 4.45 in precipitation 4.5 NovDecember: 4.87 in precipitation 4.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Destin Ft Walton Airport, FL (9 mi away); precipitation: Mary Esther 0.6 E, FL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Fort Walton Beach

325479a
20 to 25 °F
325489a
20 to 25 °F
325499a
20 to 25 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Fort Walton Beach

What planting zone is Fort Walton Beach, FL?

Fort Walton Beach, FL is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Fort Walton Beach, FL?

The median last spring frost is February 5 and the median first fall frost is December 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Destin Ft Walton Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Fort Walton Beach, FL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Dec 25 – Jan 15; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 12, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Walton Beach, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 07 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Fort Walton Beach, FL get?

About 63.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).