Bakersfield Airport, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Bakersfield Airport garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Jan 17
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 15
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
332 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 10b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 23 Jan 17 Feb 18
First fall frost Jan 12 Dec 15 Nov 30
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 2 · first Dec 24

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the BAKERSFIELD AP station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Bakersfield Airport

Computed from Bakersfield Airport's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-10 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Nov 22 – Dec 6 Jan 24 – Jan 31
🫑 Peppers Nov 8 – Nov 22 Jan 31 – Feb 7
🥬 Lettuce Dec 6 – Dec 20 Dec 20 – Jan 3 Dec 20 – Jan 17
🫛 Peas Dec 6 – Dec 20
🥕 Carrots Dec 27 – Jan 17
🥦 Broccoli Nov 29 – Dec 13 Dec 27 – Jan 10
🥬 Kale Dec 6 – Dec 20 Dec 20 – Jan 3 Dec 20 – Jan 3
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 20 – Dec 27 Jan 24 – Jan 31 Jan 24 – Jan 31
🥒 Zucchini Dec 20 – Dec 27 Jan 24 – Jan 31 Jan 24 – Jan 31
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 24 – Jan 31
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 24 – Jan 31
🌿 Basil Dec 6 – Dec 20 Jan 24 – Jan 31 Jan 31 – Feb 7
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 3 – Dec 1

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Bakersfield Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Bakersfield Airport

With roughly 332 frost-free days, Bakersfield Airport gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Dec 15 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Bakersfield Airport, CA?

The average last spring frost in Bakersfield Airport is around Jan 17, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Bakersfield Airport, CA?

The average first fall frost in Bakersfield Airport arrives around Dec 15. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Bakersfield Airport?

About 332 frost-free days on average, from Jan 17 to Dec 15. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Bakersfield Airport in?

USDA zone 10b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.