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

Planting zone for 32580 — Valparaiso, FL

ZIP code 32580 (Valparaiso, Okaloosa County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 12 and the first fall frost November 19.

Where ZIP 32580 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 frostMar 12
First frostNov 19
2012 zone8b

Was 8b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 12median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 31only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 19median — 10% chance by Nov 3
Growing season253 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 25 and returns around December 5.

From the NOAA station Niceville, FL — 2 miles away, elevation 59 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 32580

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 29 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 12 – Feb 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
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 12) 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 32580 came on Jan 27 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 28).

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 Valparaiso, FL.

Soil in Valparaiso, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 32580 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 32580; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Valparaiso, FL

Summer high90 °Faverage high, July
Winter low38 °Faverage low, January
Hot days52days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights36nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,238base 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
Precipitation69.2 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 38 °F 61°38° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 41 °F 65°41° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 46 °F 70°46° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 53 °F 76°53° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° MayJune: average high 88 °F, low 69 °F 88°69° JunJuly: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 72 °F 90°72° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 68 °F 87°68° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 57 °F 80°57° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 45 °F 71°45° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 5.41 in precipitation 5.4 JanFebruary: 5.20 in precipitation 5.2 FebMarch: 5.32 in precipitation 5.3 MarApril: 5.47 in precipitation 5.5 AprMay: 3.77 in precipitation 3.8 MayJune: 6.91 in precipitation 6.9 JunJuly: 7.88 in precipitation 7.9 JulAugust: 8.22 in precipitation 8.2 AugSeptember: 6.29 in precipitation 6.3 SepOctober: 4.25 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 4.88 in precipitation 4.9 NovDecember: 5.58 in precipitation 5.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Niceville, FL (2 mi away); precipitation: Eglin AFB 5.6 Ne, FL (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

325429a
Eglin Afb, FL · 2 mi
325789a
Niceville, FL · 4 mi
325799a
Shalimar, FL · 5 mi
325489a
Fort Walton Beach, FL · 8 mi
325409b
Destin, FL · 8 mi
325419a
Destin, FL · 8 mi
325499a
Fort Walton Beach, FL · 9 mi
325479a
Fort Walton Beach, FL · 9 mi

Florida planting zones →

Questions about 32580

What planting zone is ZIP code 32580?

ZIP code 32580 (Valparaiso, 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 Valparaiso, FL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 32580 is March 12; after March 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Niceville station.

When is the first frost in Valparaiso, FL?

The median first fall frost near 32580 is November 19, giving a median frost-free growing season of 253 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 32580?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 15 – Jan 29 and set transplants outside around Mar 19 – Apr 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 32580 get?

About 69.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Eglin AFB 5.6 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Valparaiso, FL?

The average high peaks at 90 °F in July, with about 52 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 32580 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lakeland at the center of ZIP 32580: sand, excessively drained, pH about 4.9 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Valparaiso, FL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 32580 came on Jan 27 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 28), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Valparaiso, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 32580 is 14 h 07 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 32580 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 32580 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.