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

Planting zone for Port Saint Joe, FL

Port Saint Joe, FL is in USDA zone 9b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 15 and the first fall frost December 18.

Port Saint Joe 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 15
First frostDec 18
Growing season307 days

9b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Port Saint Joe, 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 Port Saint Joe, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 18median — 10% chance by Nov 21
Growing season307 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 31 and returns around January 5.

From the NOAA station Apalachicola Airport, FL, elevation 20 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 Port Saint Joe

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 4 – Jan 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 7 – Dec 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 21 – Jan 4
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 7 – Dec 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 1 – Mar 15
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 23 – Nov 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 4 – Jan 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 15) and first fall frost (Dec 18) 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 32456 came on Jan 17 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 24).

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 Port Saint Joe, FL.

Soil in Port Saint Joe, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32456 is Aquents — fine sand, poorly drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH4.8strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupA/Ddrains fast once dried out; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Aquents, gently undulating.

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 32456; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Port Saint Joe, FL

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low44 °Faverage low, January
Hot days56days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights9nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,119base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 04 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 14 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation53.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 64 °F, low 44 °F 64°44° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 47 °F 66°47° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 53 °F 71°53° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 58 °F 76°58° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 66 °F 84°66° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 73 °F 89°73° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 75 °F 90°75° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 75 °F 89°75° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 72 °F 87°72° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 62 °F 81°62° OctNovember: average high 73 °F, low 52 °F 73°52° NovDecember: average high 66 °F, low 47 °F 66°47° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 4.06 in precipitation 4.1 JanFebruary: 4.17 in precipitation 4.2 FebMarch: 4.34 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 AprMay: 1.87 in precipitation 1.9 MayJune: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 JunJuly: 5.74 in precipitation 5.7 JulAugust: 7.79 in precipitation 7.8 AugSeptember: 5.38 in precipitation 5.4 SepOctober: 3.63 in precipitation 3.6 OctNovember: 3.74 in precipitation 3.7 NovDecember: 3.59 in precipitation 3.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Apalachicola Airport, FL (17 mi away); precipitation: Apalachicola Airport, FL (17 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Port Saint Joe

324569b
25 to 30 °F
324579b
25 to 30 °F

Florida planting zones →

Questions about Port Saint Joe

What planting zone is Port Saint Joe, FL?

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

When is the last frost in Port Saint Joe, FL?

The median last spring frost is February 15 and the median first fall frost is December 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Apalachicola Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Port Saint Joe, FL?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 4 – Jan 25; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 22, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Port Saint Joe, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 04 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Port Saint Joe, FL get?

About 53.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).