USDA Zone 10a Planting Calendar (2026)
Zone 10a (30 to 35°F) has an average last spring frost on Jan 31 and first fall frost on Dec 30 — about 333 growing days. Typical areas: Miami FL, Phoenix AZ.
How to use the zone 10a planting calendar
Every planting date on this page is calculated from zone 10a's average frost dates. Because your last spring frost lands around Jan 31 and your first fall frost around Dec 30, you have roughly 333 frost-free days to work with — a long growing season. The table below lists, for each of 20 common vegetables, when to start seeds indoors, when to sow or transplant outdoors, and when you can expect your first harvest.
Frost dates are averages, not guarantees. In a cold year the last frost can arrive 1-2 weeks later, so keep row covers handy for tender seedlings in Jan. Click any vegetable name to open a detailed zone 10a guide with spacing, companions, container tips and troubleshooting.
Cool-season crops for zone 10a
These tolerate light frost and go out first, 2-4 weeks before your Jan 31 last frost, and again in late summer for a fall crop: lettuce, carrot, broccoli, spinach, kale, onion, garlic, potato, peas, radish, beet, cabbage, cauliflower.
Warm-season crops for zone 10a
These need warm soil and frost-free weather, so plant them after Jan 31: tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn, bush beans, summer squash, zucchini. In a long season, start the slowest ones indoors to be sure they ripen before Dec.
| Vegetable | Start Indoors | Sow / Transplant | Harvest From |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beet | — | Jan 3 | Feb 27 |
| 🥦 Broccoli | Dec 27 | Jan 17 | Mar 23 |
| 🫘 Bush Beans | — | Feb 7 | Apr 3 |
| 🥬 Cabbage | Dec 20 | Jan 17 | Apr 7 |
| 🥕 Carrot | — | Jan 10 | Mar 21 |
| 🥦 Cauliflower | Dec 20 | Jan 17 | Apr 2 |
| 🌽 Corn | — | Feb 14 | May 5 |
| 🥒 Cucumber | Jan 10 | Feb 14 | Apr 10 |
| 🧄 Garlic | — | Jul 18 | Mar 15 |
| 🥬 Kale | Dec 27 | Jan 10 | Mar 6 |
| 🥬 Lettuce | Jan 3 | Jan 10 | Feb 24 |
| 🧅 Onion | Nov 22 | Jan 3 | Apr 13 |
| 🟢 Peas | — | Dec 20 | Feb 18 |
| 🫑 Pepper | Dec 6 | Feb 14 | Apr 25 |
| 🥔 Potato | — | Jan 17 | Apr 17 |
| 🌶️ Radish | — | Jan 3 | Jan 31 |
| 🍃 Spinach | — | Dec 27 | Feb 5 |
| 🎃 Summer Squash | Jan 10 | Feb 7 | Mar 29 |
| 🍅 Tomato | Dec 20 | Feb 7 | Apr 23 |
| 🥒 Zucchini | Jan 10 | Feb 7 | Mar 29 |
Spring, summer and fall planting in zone 10a
Spring (Jan): As soon as the soil can be worked, direct sow hardy cool-season crops and set out frost-tolerant transplants. This is your window for peas, lettuce, spinach and the brassicas before summer heat arrives.
Early summer (after Jan 31): Once frost danger passes and soil warms past 60°F, transplant tomatoes, peppers and squash and direct sow beans and cucumbers. This is the heart of the zone 10a growing season.
Late summer to fall (before Dec 30):Sow a second round of quick cool-season crops for a fall harvest. Count back each crop's days-to-harvest from Dec 30 to find the latest safe sowing date, and use row covers to stretch the season a few extra weeks.
Zone 10a planting FAQ
What planting zone is Miami FL?
Areas like Miami FL, Phoenix AZ fall in USDA hardiness zone 10a, defined by an average annual minimum temperature of 30 to 35°F. Your average last spring frost is around Jan 31 and your first fall frost around Dec 30.
When is the last frost in zone 10a?
The average last spring frost in zone 10a is around Jan 31. Wait until after this date before transplanting warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers and squash. Cool-season crops can go out 2-4 weeks earlier because they tolerate light frost.
How long is the growing season in zone 10a?
Zone 10a has roughly 333 frost-free days between the last spring frost (Jan 31) and first fall frost (Dec 30). That is a long season — long enough for two or even three successive harvests of fast crops.
What vegetables grow best in zone 10a?
Reliable choices for zone 10a include cool-season crops such as lettuce, carrot, broccoli, spinach planted in early spring, and warm-season crops such as tomato, pepper, cucumber, corn planted after the last frost. See the full table below for exact dates.
Can I grow a fall garden in zone 10a?
Yes. With a first frost around Dec 30, you can plant a second round of quick cool-season crops in mid to late summer. Count back the days-to-harvest from Dec 30 to find your fall planting date.
When should I start seeds indoors in zone 10a?
Most warm-season seedlings are started indoors 6-8 weeks before the last frost — that means roughly Jan for zone 10a. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplant benefit most from an indoor head start in this zone.