Madera Municipal Airport, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Feb 12
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 30
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
291 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 6 Feb 12 Mar 17
First fall frost Jan 3 Nov 30 Nov 14
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 7 · first Dec 15

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the MADERA MUNI 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 Madera Municipal Airport

Computed from Madera Municipal Airport'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 18 – Jan 1 Feb 19 – Feb 26
🫑 Peppers Dec 4 – Dec 18 Feb 26 – Mar 5
🥬 Lettuce Jan 1 – Jan 15 Jan 15 – Jan 29 Jan 15 – Feb 12
🫛 Peas Jan 1 – Jan 15
🥕 Carrots Jan 22 – Feb 12
🥦 Broccoli Dec 25 – Jan 8 Jan 22 – Feb 5
🥬 Kale Jan 1 – Jan 15 Jan 15 – Jan 29 Jan 15 – Jan 29
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 15 – Jan 22 Feb 19 – Feb 26 Feb 19 – Feb 26
🥒 Zucchini Jan 15 – Jan 22 Feb 19 – Feb 26 Feb 19 – Feb 26
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Feb 19 – Feb 26
🌽 Sweet Corn Feb 19 – Feb 26
🌿 Basil Jan 1 – Jan 15 Feb 19 – Feb 26 Feb 26 – Mar 5
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 19 – Nov 16

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 Madera Municipal Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Madera Municipal Airport

With roughly 291 frost-free days, Madera Municipal 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 Nov 30 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Madera Municipal Airport, CA?

The average last spring frost in Madera Municipal Airport is around Feb 12, 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 Madera Municipal Airport, CA?

The average first fall frost in Madera Municipal Airport arrives around Nov 30. 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 Madera Municipal Airport?

About 291 frost-free days on average, from Feb 12 to Nov 30. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Madera Municipal Airport 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.