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

Planting zone for Milton, FL

Milton, FL is in USDA zone 9a across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 14 and the first fall frost November 19.

Milton on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 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 codes4
Last frostMar 14
First frostNov 19
Growing season251 days

9a 4 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Milton, 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 Milton, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 14median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 4only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 19median — 10% chance by Nov 4
Growing season251 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 28 and returns around December 2.

From the NOAA station Whiting Field NAS, FL, elevation 200 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 Milton

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 24 – Oct 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 5 – Dec 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 14) and first fall frost (Nov 19) 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 32572 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 Milton, FL.

Soil in Milton, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32572 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 32572; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Milton, FL

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low42 °Faverage low, January
Hot days100days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights21nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,226base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 08 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 09 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation66.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° JanFebruary: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° FebMarch: average high 74 °F, low 51 °F 74°51° MarApril: average high 80 °F, low 56 °F 80°56° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 64 °F 86°64° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 72 °F 92°72° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 75 °F 93°75° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 74 °F 93°74° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° SepOctober: average high 83 °F, low 59 °F 83°59° OctNovember: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° NovDecember: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.46 in precipitation 5.5 JanFebruary: 4.85 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 5.39 in precipitation 5.4 MarApril: 5.93 in precipitation 5.9 AprMay: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 6.76 in precipitation 6.8 JunJuly: 7.61 in precipitation 7.6 JulAugust: 6.39 in precipitation 6.4 AugSeptember: 6.53 in precipitation 6.5 SepOctober: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 OctNovember: 4.36 in precipitation 4.4 NovDecember: 5.44 in precipitation 5.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Whiting Field NAS South, FL (4 mi away); precipitation: Whiting Field NAS South, FL (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Milton

325709a
20 to 25 °F
325719a
20 to 25 °F
325729a
20 to 25 °F
325839a
20 to 25 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Milton

What planting zone is Milton, FL?

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

When is the last frost in Milton, FL?

The median last spring frost is March 14 and the median first fall frost is November 19 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Whiting Field NAS station).

When can I plant a garden in Milton, FL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 31 – Feb 21; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 21, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Milton, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 08 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Milton, FL get?

About 66.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).