Palmdale Airport, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Mar 18
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 15
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
242 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Feb 19 Mar 18 Apr 11
First fall frost Nov 30 Nov 15 Oct 30
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Feb 19 · first Nov 27

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the PALMDALE 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 Palmdale Airport

Computed from Palmdale 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 Jan 21 – Feb 4 Mar 25 – Apr 1
🫑 Peppers Jan 7 – Jan 21 Apr 1 – Apr 8
🥬 Lettuce Feb 4 – Feb 18 Feb 18 – Mar 4 Feb 18 – Mar 18
🫛 Peas Feb 4 – Feb 18
🥕 Carrots Feb 25 – Mar 18
🥦 Broccoli Jan 28 – Feb 11 Feb 25 – Mar 11
🥬 Kale Feb 4 – Feb 18 Feb 18 – Mar 4 Feb 18 – Mar 4
🥒 Cucumbers Feb 18 – Feb 25 Mar 25 – Apr 1 Mar 25 – Apr 1
🥒 Zucchini Feb 18 – Feb 25 Mar 25 – Apr 1 Mar 25 – Apr 1
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Mar 25 – Apr 1
🌽 Sweet Corn Mar 25 – Apr 1
🌿 Basil Feb 4 – Feb 18 Mar 25 – Apr 1 Apr 1 – Apr 8
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 4 – Nov 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 Palmdale Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Palmdale Airport

With roughly 242 frost-free days, Palmdale 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 15 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Palmdale Airport, CA?

The average last spring frost in Palmdale Airport is around Mar 18, 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 Palmdale Airport, CA?

The average first fall frost in Palmdale Airport arrives around Nov 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 Palmdale Airport?

About 242 frost-free days on average, from Mar 18 to Nov 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 Palmdale 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.