When to Plant in Fort Myers, FL

Fort Myers is one of the warmest gardening climates in the continental United States — Zone 10a with an average last frost date in mid-January at the very latest, and most years see no frost at all. The dry season from October through May is your growing season gold mine.

Summer heat and humidity from June through September limits you to the toughest heat-tolerant crops, but the dry season rewards you with some of the most productive vegetable growing in the country. Many Fort Myers gardeners grow two full tomato crops per year.

What to plant now in Fort Myers

Fall & Winter (Oct–Feb): Prime growing — tomatoes, peppers, beans, cucumbers, squash, eggplant, all greens and brassicas.
Spring: Final window for warm-season crops before intense summer heat.
Summer: Okra, sweet potatoes, southern peas, Malabar spinach, and tropical crops.
Year-round: Tropical fruits, herbs, and edible tropicals like moringa and cassava.

In Fort Myers (12 frost-free days, a short season), 11 of 56 planner crops fit outright, 1 get two plantings, 3 need an indoor start, 2 need a faster variety, 38 don't reliably mature, 1 crop is perennial.

Month by month in Fort Myers

Month	What to do
January	Peak growing season. All vegetables thrive. Harvest and replant freely.
February	Excellent conditions. Plant cucumbers, squash, beans, and corn.
March	Spring crops in full swing. Start transitioning to heat-tolerant summer crops.
April	Plant okra, sweet potatoes, and tropical crops. Wrap up cool-season harvests.
May	Summer heat intensifying. Mulch deeply. Switch to heat-tolerant varieties.
June	Rainy season begins. Grow okra, Malabar spinach, and tropical herbs.
July	Peak summer heat and rain. Maintain existing plants and harvest okra.
August	Start seeds for fall tomatoes and peppers (plant outdoors late August).
September	Fall planting begins. Plant tomatoes, peppers, and beans early in the month.
October	Full fall planting: all cool-season crops, lettuce, broccoli, kale, carrots.
November	Excellent growing weather. Plant garlic and root vegetables.
December	Peak cool-season harvests. Ideal conditions for nearly all vegetables.

Frost dates for Fort Myers ZIP codes

ZIP	Last spring frost (50%)	First fall frost (50%)	Zone
33905	January 4	January 16	10a

FAQ

When is the last frost date in Fort Myers, FL?

Fort Myers rarely sees frost — the technical average last frost date is around January 4, but most years have no frost at all. Fort Myers is essentially a frost-free growing zone.

Can I really grow tomatoes year-round in Fort Myers?

Not quite — summer heat (95°F+) prevents tomatoes from setting fruit. You can grow two crops: a fall crop planted August–September and a spring crop planted January–February.

What grows best in Fort Myers?

Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, cucumbers, beans, squash, and all cool-season greens thrive in the dry season. Okra, sweet potatoes, and tropical crops thrive in summer.

When should I start my fall garden in Fort Myers?

Start fall tomato and pepper seeds in August and get transplants in the ground by late August to early September for peak performance.

How does Plan My Garden help Fort Myers gardeners?

Enter your Fort Myers zip code and we'll calculate planting windows for all your crops — calibrated for Southwest Florida's near-tropical growing calendar.