King City, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Feb 23
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 22
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
272 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Jan 19 Feb 23 Mar 31
First fall frost Dec 11 Nov 22 Nov 1
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 22 · first Dec 6

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the KING CITY 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 King City

Computed from King City's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-9 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Dec 29 – Jan 12 Mar 2 – Mar 9
🫑 Peppers Dec 15 – Dec 29 Mar 9 – Mar 16
🥬 Lettuce Jan 12 – Jan 26 Jan 26 – Feb 9 Jan 26 – Feb 23
🫛 Peas Jan 12 – Jan 26
🥕 Carrots Feb 2 – Feb 23
🥦 Broccoli Jan 5 – Jan 19 Feb 2 – Feb 16
🥬 Kale Jan 12 – Jan 26 Jan 26 – Feb 9 Jan 26 – Feb 9
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 26 – Feb 2 Mar 2 – Mar 9 Mar 2 – Mar 9
🥒 Zucchini Jan 26 – Feb 2 Mar 2 – Mar 9 Mar 2 – Mar 9
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 2 – Mar 9
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 2 – Mar 9
🌿 Basil Jan 12 – Jan 26 Mar 2 – Mar 9 Mar 9 – Mar 16
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 11 – Nov 8

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 King City's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in King City

With roughly 272 frost-free days, King City 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 Nov 22 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in King City, CA?

The average last spring frost in King City is around Feb 23, 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 King City, CA?

The average first fall frost in King City arrives around Nov 22. 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 King City?

About 272 frost-free days on average, from Feb 23 to Nov 22. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is King City in?

USDA zone 9b 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.