Frost dates for ZIP 32079 (Penney Farms, FL)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Starke, FL (19 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)313 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Brunswick 23 S (61 mi), Sellers Lake #1 (61 mi).
4-inch depth
78°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Brunswick 23 S (61 mi), Sellers Lake #1 (61 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 32079 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 78°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically September to early October).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Southeast (warm, humid). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Centipedegrass (warm-season): Spring: Not before mid-May (NC State); after full green-up (about Mar 26 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Optional mid-summer feeding, especially on sandy coastal soils. Avoid: Early-spring feeding, frequent feeding and liming unless a soil test calls for it (centipede decline).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 15–Nov 12
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 29–Nov 19
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 19
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 26
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Jan 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 8 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 29 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 30 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 1 | Dec 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 8 | Dec 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 23 | Jan 4 (next year) |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 32079
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 8) and first fall frost (Dec 24). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 14–28 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 14–28 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 14–28 | Jan 18–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 11–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 19 (transplant) Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 28–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 14–28 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 14–28 | Jan 11–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 16–30 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 14–28 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 11–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Jan 25–Feb 15 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 4–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 11–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 18–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 14–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 16–30 | Dec 28–Jan 11 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 28–Jan 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 16–30 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 28–Jan 11 (transplant) | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 11–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 11–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 11–18 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 11–18 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 11–18 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 16–30 | Feb 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Plants that do well here
Florida has a university or garden plant program: Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Plant Guide. Plant frost-tender annuals after February 8 here (the average last frost). Not affiliated with the program.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Starke, FL (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00088529), elevation 150 ft, 18.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville NAS, FL | 20 mi | Feb 1 | Jan 5 (next year) |
| Federal Pt, FL | 22 mi | Jan 31 | Jan 4 (next year) |
| Hastings 4NE, FL | 25 mi | Feb 14 | Dec 30 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 32079
When is the last frost in 32079?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 32079 is February 8. For a more cautious planting date, use March 8, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 32079?
The average first fall freeze is December 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 29.
What hardiness zone is 32079?
ZIP 32079 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 32079 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
32043 Asbury Lake 32068 Middleburg 32003 Fleming Island 32656 Keystone Heights 32073 Bellair-Meadowbrook Terrace 32065 Oakleaf Plantation 32259 Fruit Cove 32140
Other ZIP codes in Clay County
32003 32043 32065 32068 32073 32656 All Clay County frost dates · Florida frost dates
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