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

Planting zone for 32526 — Pensacola, FL

ZIP code 32526 (Pensacola, Escambia County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is February 17 and the first fall frost December 9.

Where ZIP 32526 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostFeb 17
First frostDec 9
2012 zone9a

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Pensacola, 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 Pensacola, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 9median — 10% chance by Nov 15
Growing season299 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 31 and returns around January 2.

From the NOAA station Pensacola 7 Nne, FL — 10 miles away, elevation 115 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 32526

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 6 – Jan 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 9 – Dec 23
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 27 – Feb 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 27 – Feb 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 23 – Jan 6
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 9 – Dec 23
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 3 – Mar 17
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 24 – Mar 10
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 14 – Oct 28
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 25 – Dec 30
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 17) and first fall frost (Dec 9) 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 32526 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 Pensacola, FL.

Soil in Pensacola, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32526 is Croatan — muck, very poorly drained.

TextureMucktop layer
DrainageVery poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter42.5%high
Hydrologic groupB/Dmoderate when drained; wet otherwise
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Croatan and Pickney soils, depressional.

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 32526; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Pensacola, FL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low42 °Faverage low, January
Hot days80days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights13nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,987base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 07 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 10 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation72.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 42 °F 61°42° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 46 °F 65°46° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 52 °F 71°52° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 59 °F 77°59° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 67 °F 85°67° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 73 °F 89°73° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 74 °F 91°74° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 74 °F 91°74° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 71 °F 88°71° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 60 °F 80°60° OctNovember: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 46 °F 64°46° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 6.57 in precipitation 6.6 JanFebruary: 4.97 in precipitation 5.0 FebMarch: 5.35 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 5.51 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 4.51 in precipitation 4.5 MayJune: 7.85 in precipitation 7.8 JunJuly: 8.57 in precipitation 8.6 JulAugust: 8.06 in precipitation 8.1 AugSeptember: 6.32 in precipitation 6.3 SepOctober: 4.20 in precipitation 4.2 OctNovember: 4.74 in precipitation 4.7 NovDecember: 6.12 in precipitation 6.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pensacola 7 Nne, FL (10 mi away); precipitation: Gonzalez 2.1 E, FL (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

325099a
Pensacola, FL · 3 mi
325349a
Pensacola, FL · 5 mi
365749a
Seminole, AL · 7 mi
325059a
Pensacola, FL · 7 mi
325609a
Gonzalez, FL · 7 mi
325069a
Pensacola, FL · 7 mi
325139a
Pensacola, FL · 7 mi
325119a
Pensacola, FL · 8 mi

All 23 ZIP codes in Pensacola → · Florida planting zones →

Questions about 32526

What planting zone is ZIP code 32526?

ZIP code 32526 (Pensacola, FL) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Pensacola, FL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 32526 is February 17; after March 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pensacola 7 Nne station.

When is the first frost in Pensacola, FL?

The median first fall frost near 32526 is December 9, giving a median frost-free growing season of 299 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 32526?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 23 – Jan 6 and set transplants outside around Feb 24 – Mar 10, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 32526 get?

About 72.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Gonzalez 2.1 E station).

How hot do summers get in Pensacola, FL?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 80 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 32526 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Croatan at the center of ZIP 32526: muck, very poorly drained.

Did spring come early in Pensacola, FL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 32526 came on Jan 16 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Pensacola, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 32526 is 14 h 07 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.