What Grows in On Top of the World, Florida

USDA Zones 9a-10b · 11K acres

On Top of the World, Florida, sits in USDA hardiness zones 9a-10b — a band that supports both cool-season staples and warm-season crops chosen to fit the local frost window.

Well-matched crops include mango, tomato, orange, and sweet potato, and the gap between "grows in the area" and "grows in your yard" is closed by soil, sun, and drainage.

Score your parcel · free

Even in On Top of the World, no two yards are alike.

A low spot, a south-facing slope, or a stand of trees moves the frost date and sun across a single On Top of the World lot. Enter your address and we'll score 1,112 plants against your land's actual soil, sun, and frost.

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

No card required · your full report in seconds

Quick Facts

USDA Zones

9a-10b

Last Frost (state avg.)

Jan 1 - Mar 15

First Frost (state avg.)

Nov 15 - never (south FL)

Town Area

11K acres

Hardiness Zone Range

9a
10b
3a (Cold)13b (Hot)

Growing Season

J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
Last frost: Jan 1 - Mar 15First frost: Nov 15 - never (south FL)

Zone maps are averages across On Top of the World. Your yard's slope, trees, and frost pockets shift what actually grows — see your land's exact reading.

Soil varies lot by lot — soil types explained.

Growing Challenges in Florida

What an experienced grower plans around here — each one has a move.

Sandy soils drain too fast and hold few nutrients — frequent fertilization needed

Build organic matter relentlessly — compost and cover crops turn sand into soil that holds both water and food.

Humidity drives fungal diseases (powdery mildew, black spot, rust)

Space plants for airflow, water at the base in the morning, and choose resistant varieties — your extension office lists the proven ones.

Hurricane season (June-November) can destroy plantings

Favor wind-tough perennials, stake young trees properly, and keep fall crops in containers you can move ahead of a storm.

Nematodes are a serious pest in sandy FL soils

Summer solarization and crop-family rotation knock nematodes back — your extension office can confirm the species from a soil sample.

For cultivar selection, pest pressure, and planting-time guidance specific to Florida, the UF/IFAS Extension is the authoritative local source.

Environmental Intelligence

Understanding what's nearby helps you make informed decisions about where and how to grow.

Total Sites

408

within ~10 miles of On Top of the World

Risk Level

Elevated

Highest-severity

2 Superfund sites

Severity Distribution

within ~10 miles of On Top of the World

High5Moderate126Low277

Highest-Severity Sites

Aurora Precision Metals
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
Martel Landfill
Superfund · Superfund (Non-NPL)
On Top of the World Communities, LLC
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
Spruce Creek Utility CO INC.
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected
West Side Consolidated
PFAS Sampling · PFAS Detected

A note from Gnorman

What an experienced grower watches for around here

In and around On Top of the World, Toxic Release Inventory runs higher than the national average — 26 sites nearby. It's not cause for alarm — it's worth knowing, and there's a sensible way to grow around it.

Toxic Release Inventory: TRI facilities report annual chemical releases to air, water, and land.

Check prevailing wind direction — downwind parcels face higher exposure than upwind or crosswind locations.

Free Report

Check your specific parcel in On Top of the World

Get exact proximity distances to contamination sources for your specific parcel — plus soil, sun, drainage, and 1,112 plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Your Specific Parcel Matters

On Top of the World Average

  • USDA Zones 9a-10b
  • Generic soil type for the area
  • State-average frost dates

YOUR Parcel

  • Your exact hardiness zone
  • Your SSURGO soil type & pH
  • Your sun exposure, cast in 3D

See MY Growing Report

Free Report

Read your specific parcel in On Top of the World

Pull a site-specific report for your exact address in On Top of the World, Florida — soil, sun, drainage, frost risk, and scored plant recommendations.

Three things about your exact spot that zone averages miss:

Your soil pHYour frost-free daysYour sun & shade

We read public map data for this spot — soil, climate, flood, and parcel records. How we handle your address.

25+ data sources analyzed in seconds

Key Growing Facts for On Top of the World, Florida

  • USDA Hardiness Zones: 9a-10b (USDA PHZM 2023)
  • Last Spring Frost (state avg.): Jan 1 - Mar 15 (NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals)
  • First Fall Frost (state avg.): Nov 15 - never (south FL) (NOAA 30-Year Climate Normals)
  • Land Area: 11K acres (US Census TIGER 2025)

Zone data: USDA ARS Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Climate data: NOAA NCEI. Boundaries: US Census TIGER/Line 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions

What hardiness zone is On Top of the World, Florida?

On Top of the World sits in USDA hardiness zones 9a-10b, per the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023. Zones reflect average annual extreme minimum temperatures from 1991–2020 weather data.

When does frost risk typically end in On Top of the World?

On Top of the World follows Florida's statewide frost window: last spring frost around Jan 1 - Mar 15 and first fall frost around Nov 15 - never (south FL), per NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020). Frost dates shift with elevation and local microclimate, so watch your own site's cold pockets.

What vegetables grow in On Top of the World?

On Top of the World's zones 9a-10b support a wide range — strong performers include Mango, Tomato, Orange, Sweet Potato, and Banana. What actually takes on any one site comes down to its soil, sun, and drainage, and we score each plant against the real conditions at your address.

Which hardiness zone is On Top of the World, really?

Officially, On Top of the World sits in USDA zones 9a-10b (USDA PHZM 2023) — but a zone is a 30-year average of winter's coldest night across an area, and it can't see any one yard. A south-facing slope, a tree line, or a low frost pocket can shift a single site by half a zone either way, which is why neighboring gardeners often quote different numbers. We read the conditions at your exact address — soil, sun, slope, and frost — and score 1,112 plants against what's actually there.

Is the soil safe to grow vegetables in On Top of the World?

The federal record around On Top of the World is a meaningful one — 408 documented sites — so a soil test before new food beds is a sensible precaution here, not a reason to hold back from growing. Remember that proximity to a documented site is information, not a diagnosis of any one yard; the contamination map shows exactly what sits where.

How do I protect my plants from frost in On Top of the World?

As the season closes around Florida's first fall frost near Nov 15 - never (south FL) (NOAA 30-year climate normals (1991–2020)), a few moves buy time: cover tender plants with floating row cover or an old sheet on still, clear nights, water the soil the afternoon before a freeze so it holds warmth overnight, and harvest frost-tender crops like tomatoes, peppers, and basil before the first hard night. Hardy greens and root crops shrug off light frost and often sweeten after it, so leave them in.

Everything on this page is a On Top of the World average. Your yard writes its own version — we read soil, sun, drainage, and frost at your exact address. Try it for 14 days — no card required.