California Frost Dates

Average last spring and first fall frost for California cities, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. Click a city for its full planting guide.

CityLast spring frostFirst fall frostSeasonZone
Los Angeles Rare Rare Year-round 10b
San Diego Rare Rare Year-round 10b
San Francisco Rare Rare Year-round 10b
Sacramento Jan 12 Dec 16 338 days 9b
Fresno Jan 14 Dec 14 334 days 9b

All California station records (330)

Every NOAA weather station in California with complete 1991–2020 frost normals — pick the one nearest you (similar elevation matters more than plain distance).

Not sure which station to trust? Use the ZIP code lookup for the quick answer, or pick the station whose terrain most resembles your garden.

Planning a California garden around these dates

Count back from the last spring frost to schedule indoor seed starting (the seed starting scheduler automates it), plant hardy crops in the weeks before the date, and hold tender crops — tomatoes, peppers, squash, basil — until after it. In fall, the first frost date is the deadline: crops must mature before it, which is what our planting calendar counts backwards for you. Crop-by-crop timing for every USDA zone lives under when to plant.