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

Planting zone for 34442 — Hernando, FL

ZIP code 34442 (Hernando, Citrus County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 3 and the first fall frost December 5.

Where ZIP 34442 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 3
First frostDec 5
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 Hernando, 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 Hernando, FL

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 5median — 10% chance by Nov 15
Growing season279 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 11 and returns around December 29.

From the NOAA station Inverness 3 Se, FL — 9 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 34442

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 20 – Feb 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 23 – Jan 6
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 10 – Feb 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 10 – Feb 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 6 – Jan 20
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 23 – Jan 6
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 17 – Mar 31
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 10 – Oct 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 21 – Dec 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 3) and first fall frost (Dec 5) 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 34442 came on Jan 16 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20).

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 Hernando, FL.

Soil in Hernando, FL

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 34442 is Udorthents, somewhat poorly drained.

DrainageSomewhat poorly drainedconsider raised beds
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Udorthents, 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 34442; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Hernando, FL

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low43 °Faverage low, January
Hot days112days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights16nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days7,343base 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
Precipitation55.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 69 °F, low 43 °F 69°43° JanFebruary: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° FebMarch: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° MarApril: average high 82 °F, low 55 °F 82°55° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 62 °F 88°62° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 69 °F 90°69° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 71 °F 91°71° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 71 °F 90°71° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 69 °F 89°69° SepOctober: average high 84 °F, low 61 °F 84°61° OctNovember: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° NovDecember: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 3.14 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 2.69 in precipitation 2.7 FebMarch: 3.43 in precipitation 3.4 MarApril: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 3.55 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 8.28 in precipitation 8.3 JunJuly: 8.32 in precipitation 8.3 JulAugust: 7.93 in precipitation 7.9 AugSeptember: 6.66 in precipitation 6.7 SepOctober: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 OctNovember: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 NovDecember: 3.00 in precipitation 3.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Inverness 3 Se, FL (9 mi away); precipitation: Hernando 1.6 N, FL (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9a.

344419a
Hernando, FL · <1 mi
344539a
Inverness, FL · 4 mi
344459a
Holder, FL · 4 mi
344649a
Beverly Hills, FL · 5 mi
344349a
Dunnellon, FL · 6 mi
344659a
Beverly Hills, FL · 7 mi
344519a
Inverness, FL · 7 mi
344609a
Lecanto, FL · 9 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Hernando → · Florida planting zones →

Questions about 34442

What planting zone is ZIP code 34442?

ZIP code 34442 (Hernando, 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 Hernando, FL?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 34442 is March 3; after March 29 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Inverness 3 Se station.

When is the first frost in Hernando, FL?

The median first fall frost near 34442 is December 5, giving a median frost-free growing season of 279 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 34442?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 6 – Jan 20 and set transplants outside around Mar 10 – Mar 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 34442 get?

About 55.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hernando 1.6 N station).

How hot do summers get in Hernando, FL?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 112 days a year at 90 °F or more.

Did spring come early in Hernando, FL in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 34442 came on Jan 16 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Hernando, FL?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 34442 is 13 h 59 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.