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When to Plant Microgreens in Hendry County, FL

Microgreens are young seedlings of vegetables and herbs harvested at the cotyledon or first true leaf stage. They pack concentrated flavors and nutrients in a tiny package.

Hendry County, Florida is in USDA Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is January 14 and the first fall frost is April 15, giving you a growing season of approximately 91 days.

At an elevation of 403 feet, Hendry County receives approximately 55.9 inches of rainfall annually with predominantly sand soil. Summer highs average 89ยฐF, providing good warmth for Microgreens during the growing season. Sandy soil warms quickly in spring โ€” great for early planting โ€” but Microgreens will need more frequent watering and organic matter to retain nutrients. Ample rainfall means less supplemental watering, but ensure good drainage to prevent Microgreens root diseases.

Hendry County, FL (Zone 10a) Very short season
91 days
Last Spring Frost January 14
91 growing days
First Fall Frost April 15

Hendry County Soil Profile

Soil Type

Sand

Soil pH

5-5.8

Drainage

Well Drained

Plant Planting Risk Windows

Early Start (70% safe) ✓ Fits season (243 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 13 Transplant: Jan 10 🍅 Harvest: Jan 17 – Feb 14
Recommended (50%) ✓ Fits season (239 days to spare)
Start indoors: Dec 17 Transplant: Jan 14 🍅 Harvest: Jan 21 – Feb 18
Safe Start (90%) ✓ Fits season (213 days to spare)
Start indoors: Jan 12 Transplant: Feb 9 🍅 Harvest: Feb 16 – Mar 16

Percentages indicate frost risk at transplant. The 70% safe window means there is a 30% chance of frost after transplant — suitable for cold-hardy crops or gardeners with frost protection. The 90% safe window is best for tender plants.

Soil Compatibility in Hendry County

How your county's soil matches Microgreens's growing requirements.

Soil pH

Your soil pH (5.0โ€“5.8) is more acidic than Microgreens prefers (6.0โ€“7.0). Add garden lime to raise pH.

Soil Texture

Sandy soil in Hendry County warms quickly in spring but drains fast. Microgreens will need more frequent watering and regular compost additions to retain nutrients.

Drainage

Drainage is adequate for Microgreens.

Organic Matter

Organic matter is low (1.7%). Add 2-3 inches of compost before planting Microgreens.

How to Plant Microgreens

0.5"
Planting Depth
2"
Between Plants
6"
Between Rows

Fall planting: Sow 8 weeks before your first frost date for a fall harvest.

Plant Water Budget

Plant needs
1.0″/week
Rainfall provides
0.6″/week
You supply
0.8″/week
Watering frequency 2-3 times/week
Season total 2,560 gal / 100 sq ft
Drought risk

Water stress score is 6/10 โ€” consider drought-tolerant varieties and mulching

Monthly Watering Guide for Microgreens

Microgreens needs approximately 1 inches of water per week (4.3" per month). Here's how your county's rainfall compares month by month.

Month Microgreens Needs Rainfall You Supplement Action
Jan 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Feb 4.3" 2.7" 1.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Mar 4.3" 3.7" 0.6" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Apr 4.3" 2.6" 1.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
May 4.3" 3.6" 0.7" ๐Ÿ’ง Light watering
Jun 4.3" 7.6" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Jul 4.3" 8" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Aug 4.3" 9.4" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Sep 4.3" 6.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Oct 4.3" 4.7" 0" โœ… Rainfall sufficient
Nov โ€” 2.2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant
Dec โ€” 2" 0" โ„๏ธ Dormant

Water needs are for active growing months only (Janโ€“Oct in Hendry County). Supplement amounts are based on average rainfall โ€” actual needs vary with temperature, soil, and mulching.

Microgreens Heat Requirements (GDD)

What are Growing Degree Days (GDD)?

Growing Degree Days measure the total warmth your plants receive during the growing season. Think of it as a "heat bank" โ€” every day above 50ยฐF deposits warmth that helps your plants grow.

Each plant needs a certain amount of accumulated heat to mature. If your county provides more GDD than the plant needs, it's a great fit. If it's close, you may want to choose faster-maturing varieties or start seeds indoors to get a head start.

Microgreens needs ~234 GDD — county provides 6,113 GDD Excellent fit

Microgreens Planting Timeline โ€” Hendry County, FL

Microgreens Planting Calendar

Activity When Date Range
Start Indoors December 17 Dec 17 โ€“ Dec 31
Transplant Outdoors January 14 Jan 14 โ€“ Jan 28
Direct Sow December 24 Dec 24 โ€“ Jan 14
Harvest January 21 Jan 21 โ€“ Feb 18
Fall Sowing February 18 Feb 18 โ€“ Mar 4

Plant 0.5" deep ยท 2" apart ยท Rows 6" apart

Month-by-Month Timeline

MonthActivities
January Transplant Outdoors Direct Sow Harvest
February Fall Sowing Harvest
March Fall Sowing
April โ€”
May โ€”
June โ€”
July โ€”
August โ€”
September โ€”
October โ€”
November โ€”
December Start Indoors Direct Sow

Growing Conditions

โ˜€๏ธ Sun

Partial Shade (3-6 hours)

๐Ÿ’ง Water

1"/week ยท 2-3 times/week

๐Ÿ“… Days to Maturity

7โ€“21 days

๐Ÿงช Soil pH

Needs 6โ€“7 ยท Your soil: too_acidic

๐Ÿ—บ๏ธ USDA Zone

Zone 10a

๐Ÿ“† Growing Season

91 days in Hendry County

Growing Tips for Microgreens in Hendry County

Direct sow Microgreens outdoors after January 14 in Hendry County when soil has warmed and frost danger has passed.

Sandy soil in Hendry County dries quickly โ€” mulch Microgreens with 2-3 inches of straw and water deeply 2-3 times per week rather than lightly every day.

Your generous 365.0-day season in Hendry County allows multiple plantings of Microgreens. Sow every 3.0 days for continuous harvest.

General growing tips

Sow seeds densely on shallow trays of moist growing medium. Cover until germination, then provide light. Harvest with scissors when 1-3 inches tall. Grow year-round indoors.

Frequently Asked Questions

When should I plant Microgreens in Hendry County, FL?

Hendry County is in Zone 10a with an average last frost of January 14. Plan your Microgreens planting based on this frost date โ€” see the calendar above for exact timing.

What planting zone is Hendry County, FL?

Hendry County, Florida is in USDA Hardiness Zone 10a. The average last spring frost is January 14 and first fall frost is .

๐ŸŒฑ

Plan Your Garden with Confidence

Get our free Garden Planner โ€” designed to help Hendry County gardeners in Zone 10a organize planting dates, track what's growing, and never miss a planting window.

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Data sources: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals. Frost dates are based on 50% probability averages for Hendry County, FL. Local conditions may vary. Last updated: April 2026.