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

Planting zone for Mount Dora, FL

Mount Dora, FL is in USDA zone 9b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 24 and the first fall frost December 29.

Mount Dora on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostFeb 24
First frostDec 29
Growing season301 days

9b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mount Dora, 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 Mount Dora, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 20only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 29median — 10% chance by Nov 29
Growing season301 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 3 and returns around January 10.

From the NOAA station Mt Plymouth 1ssw, FL, elevation 89 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 Mount Dora

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 13 – Jan 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 13 – Feb 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 16 – Dec 30
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 30 – Jan 13
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 16 – Dec 30
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Nov 3 – Nov 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 15 – Jan 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 24) and first fall frost (Dec 29) 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 32756 came on Jan 16 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 18).

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 9b in Florida

477 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Florida, and rated by the USDA to survive 25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9b. 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 114

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 146

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 Mount Dora, FL.

Soil in Mount Dora, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32756 is Candler — sand, excessively drained.

TextureSanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.7moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageExcessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.36%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of unique importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Candler 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 32756; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mount Dora, FL

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low44 °Faverage low, January
Hot days120days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights13nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,857base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day13 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 18 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation54.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° JanFebruary: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° FebMarch: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° MarApril: average high 83 °F, low 56 °F 83°56° AprMay: average high 89 °F, low 64 °F 89°64° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 73 °F 93°73° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 73 °F 92°73° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 70 °F 90°70° SepOctober: average high 84 °F, low 63 °F 84°63° OctNovember: average high 78 °F, low 55 °F 78°55° NovDecember: average high 73 °F, low 49 °F 73°49° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 2.82 in precipitation 2.8 JanFebruary: 2.47 in precipitation 2.5 FebMarch: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 MarApril: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 AprMay: 4.43 in precipitation 4.4 MayJune: 8.33 in precipitation 8.3 JunJuly: 7.34 in precipitation 7.3 JulAugust: 8.48 in precipitation 8.5 AugSeptember: 6.30 in precipitation 6.3 SepOctober: 3.72 in precipitation 3.7 OctNovember: 2.04 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 2.53 in precipitation 2.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mt Plymouth 1ssw, FL (7 mi away); precipitation: Mt Plymouth 1ssw, FL (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Mount Dora

327569b
25 to 30 °F
327579b
25 to 30 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Mount Dora

What planting zone is Mount Dora, FL?

Mount Dora, FL is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map (9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Mount Dora, FL?

The median last spring frost is February 24 and the median first fall frost is December 29 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Plymouth 1ssw station).

When can I plant a garden in Mount Dora, FL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 13 – Feb 3; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 3, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Mount Dora, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 13 h 59 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Mount Dora, FL get?

About 54.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).