California Planting Calendar
California spans USDA hardiness zones 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b, 10a, 10b, 11a. Planting dates vary significantly across the state depending on your zone. Find your county on the map below for exact frost dates and planting windows.
Find Your County
Click any county to see your local planting calendar with exact frost dates and planting windows.
Hover over a county to see details. Click to view planting guide.
Zones in California
Zone 10a
Winter low: 30 to 35°F
364
Growing Days
Jan 1
Last Frost
Dec 31
First Frost
8
Counties
Zone 10b
Winter low: 35 to 40°F
364
Growing Days
Jan 1
Last Frost
Dec 31
First Frost
4
Counties
Zone 6b
Winter low: -5 to 0°F
205
Growing Days
Apr 3
Last Frost
Oct 25
First Frost
4
Counties
Zone 7a
Winter low: 0 to 5°F
221
Growing Days
Mar 25
Last Frost
Nov 1
First Frost
1
Counties
Zone 7b
Winter low: 5 to 10°F
235
Growing Days
Mar 18
Last Frost
Nov 8
First Frost
1
Counties
Zone 8a
Winter low: 10 to 15°F
255
Growing Days
Mar 8
Last Frost
Nov 18
First Frost
1
Counties
Zone 8b
Winter low: 15 to 20°F
276
Growing Days
Feb 25
Last Frost
Nov 28
First Frost
2
Counties
Zone 9a
Winter low: 20 to 25°F
303
Growing Days
Feb 10
Last Frost
Dec 10
First Frost
7
Counties
Zone 9b
Winter low: 25 to 30°F
329
Growing Days
Jan 25
Last Frost
Dec 20
First Frost
30
Counties
Growing Season Comparison
Growing Season by Zone
Zone 1a
Jun 15 – Aug 15
Zone 1b
Jun 7 – Aug 25
Zone 2a
May 30 – Sep 1
Zone 2b
May 22 – Sep 10
Zone 3a
May 15 – Sep 15
Zone 4a
May 6 – Sep 28
Zone 5a
Apr 25 – Oct 8
Zone 5b
Apr 18 – Oct 13
Zone 6a
Apr 10 – Oct 20
Zone 6b
Apr 3 – Oct 25
Zone 7a
Mar 25 – Nov 1
Zone 7b
Mar 18 – Nov 8
Zone 8a
Mar 8 – Nov 18
Zone 8b
Feb 25 – Nov 28
Zone 9a
Feb 10 – Dec 10
Zone 10a
Jan 1 – Dec 31
0
90
180
270
365 days
Frost Dates & Growing Season by County
View all 58 California counties with frost dates
| County | Zone | Last Frost | First Frost | Growing Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alameda County | 10a | Jan 18 | Dec 12 | 329 |
| Alpine County | 6b | May 19 | Oct 3 | 137 |
| Amador County | 9b | Mar 8 | Nov 25 | 262 |
| Butte County | 9b | Apr 20 | Nov 10 | 204 |
| Calaveras County | 9a | Apr 8 | Nov 12 | 218 |
| Colusa County | 9b | Mar 6 | Nov 28 | 267 |
| Contra Costa County | 9b | Feb 26 | Nov 29 | 277 |
| Del Norte County | 9b | Mar 27 | Nov 20 | 238 |
| El Dorado County | 9b | Apr 11 | Nov 22 | 225 |
| Fresno County | 9b | Mar 2 | Nov 23 | 266 |
| Glenn County | 9b | Mar 6 | Nov 28 | 267 |
| Humboldt County | 9b | Feb 27 | Nov 28 | 275 |
| Imperial County | 10a | Jan 29 | Dec 20 | 326 |
| Inyo County | 8b | Jan 15 | Dec 10 | 330 |
| Kern County | 9b | Feb 28 | Nov 29 | 275 |
| Kings County | 9a | Feb 14 | Dec 2 | 292 |
| Lake County | 9a | Mar 2 | Nov 27 | 270 |
| Lassen County | 7a | May 28 | Sep 29 | 124 |
| Los Angeles County | 10b | Apr 3 | Nov 21 | 232 |
| Madera County | 9a | Apr 18 | Nov 9 | 205 |
| Marin County | 9b | Feb 26 | Nov 26 | 274 |
| Mariposa County | 9b | Apr 18 | Nov 9 | 205 |
| Mendocino County | 9b | Mar 23 | Nov 9 | 231 |
| Merced County | 9a | Feb 24 | Nov 28 | 278 |
| Modoc County | 6b | May 31 | Sep 21 | 113 |
| Mono County | 6b | Jun 18 | Aug 20 | 63 |
| Monterey County | 9b | Mar 13 | Nov 17 | 249 |
| Napa County | 9b | Feb 26 | Nov 26 | 274 |
| Nevada County | 9a | May 10 | Oct 22 | 165 |
| Orange County | 10b | Feb 13 | Dec 11 | 302 |
| Placer County | 9b | Apr 22 | Nov 9 | 201 |
| Plumas County | 7b | May 20 | Oct 8 | 141 |
| Riverside County | 10a | Feb 24 | Dec 4 | 284 |
| Sacramento County | 9b | Feb 12 | Dec 1 | 293 |
| San Benito County | 9b | Feb 21 | Nov 29 | 282 |
| San Bernardino County | 10a | Feb 24 | Nov 25 | 275 |
| San Diego County | 10b | Apr 16 | Nov 1 | 199 |
| San Francisco County | 10b | Feb 23 | Nov 27 | 278 |
| San Joaquin County | 9b | Feb 4 | Dec 6 | 306 |
| San Luis Obispo County | 10a | Mar 23 | Nov 9 | 231 |
| San Mateo County | 10a | Jan 18 | Dec 12 | 329 |
| Santa Barbara County | 10a | Feb 28 | Nov 24 | 270 |
| Santa Clara County | 9b | Feb 19 | Dec 3 | 288 |
| Santa Cruz County | 9b | Feb 11 | Dec 4 | 297 |
| Shasta County | 9a | Jun 6 | Sep 21 | 107 |
| Sierra County | 6b | May 10 | Oct 22 | 165 |
| Siskiyou County | 8a | May 15 | Oct 1 | 139 |
| Solano County | 9b | Feb 9 | Dec 3 | 298 |
| Sonoma County | 9b | Feb 26 | Nov 26 | 274 |
| Stanislaus County | 9b | Feb 24 | Nov 28 | 278 |
| Sutter County | 9b | Mar 4 | Nov 26 | 267 |
| Tehama County | 9b | Mar 6 | Nov 28 | 267 |
| Trinity County | 8b | Apr 19 | Oct 25 | 189 |
| Tulare County | 9b | Feb 17 | Dec 3 | 290 |
| Tuolumne County | 9b | Apr 25 | Oct 27 | 185 |
| Ventura County | 10a | Mar 18 | Nov 15 | 242 |
| Yolo County | 9b | Feb 9 | Dec 3 | 298 |
| Yuba County | 9b | Apr 22 | Nov 9 | 201 |
🥬 Vegetables
Browse all 116 vegetables you can grow in California
- Acorn Squash
- Amaranth
- Artichoke
- Arugula
- Asparagus
- Beets
- Belgian Endive
- Bitter Melon
- Black Beans
- Bok Choy
- Broccoli
- Broccoli Rabe
- Brussels Sprouts
- Butternut Squash
- Cabbage
- Calabash
- Cardoon
- Carrots
- Cauliflower
- Celeriac
- Celery
- Celtuce
- Chard
- Chayote
- Chickpeas
- Chicory
- Chinese Cabbage
- Christmas Lima Beans
- Collard Greens
- Corn
- Cowpeas
- Cress
- Crookneck Squash
- Crosne
- Cucumber
- Daikon
- Delicata Squash
- Edamame
- Eggplant
- Endive
- Escarole
- Fava Beans
- Fennel
- Garlic
- Ginger
- Green Beans
- Horseradish
- Hot Peppers
- Hubbard Squash
- Jicama
- Kabocha
- Kai Lan
- Kale
- Kidney Beans
- Kohlrabi
- Komatsuna
- Leeks
- Lentils
- Lettuce
- Lima Beans
- Loofah
- Luffa
- Mache
- Malabar Spinach
- Melon
- Microgreens
- Mitsuba
- Mizuna
- Mustard Greens
- Napa Cabbage
- New Zealand Spinach
- Okra
- Onion
- Pac Choi
- Parsnip
- Patty Pan Squash
- Peas
- Peppers
- Pole Beans
- Potatoes
- Pumpkin
- Purslane
- Radicchio
- Radish
- Rhubarb
- Romanesco
- Rutabaga
- Salsify
- Savoy Cabbage
- Scallions
- Scarlet Runner Beans
- Shallot
- Shiso
- Snap Peas
- Snow Peas
- Soybeans
- Spaghetti Squash
- Spinach
- Squash (Summer)
- Squash (Winter)
- Sunchoke
- Sunflower
- Sweet Corn
- Sweet Potatoes
- Tatsoi
- Tomatillo
- Tomatoes
- Turmeric
- Turnip
- Watercress
- Watermelon
- Wax Beans
- Winter Melon
- Yam
- Yard Long Beans
- Zucchini
🍓 Fruits
Browse all 34 fruits you can grow in California
- Alpine Strawberries
- Aronia
- Blackberries
- Blueberries
- Boysenberries
- Cantaloupe
- Che Fruit
- Cranberries
- Currants
- Dragon Fruit
- Elderberries
- Figs
- Goji Berries
- Gooseberries
- Grapes
- Ground Cherry
- Guava
- Hardy Kiwi
- Haskaps
- Honeydew
- Jostaberry
- Kiwi
- Lingonberries
- Loquat
- Medlar
- Mulberries
- Passion Fruit
- Pawpaw
- Persimmon
- Pomegranate
- Quince
- Raspberries
- Serviceberries
- Strawberries
🌿 Herbs
Browse all 42 herbs you can grow in California
- Angelica
- Anise
- Basil
- Bee Balm
- Borage
- Caraway
- Catnip
- Chamomile
- Chervil
- Chives
- Cilantro
- Comfrey
- Cumin
- Dill
- Echinacea
- Epazote
- Fennel (herb)
- Feverfew
- Garlic Chives
- Horehound
- Hyssop
- Lavender
- Lemon Balm
- Lemon Thyme
- Lemon Verbena
- Lemongrass
- Lovage
- Marjoram
- Mint
- Oregano
- Parsley
- Rosemary
- Rue
- Sage
- Savory
- Sorrel
- Stevia
- Tarragon
- Thai Basil
- Thyme
- Valerian
- Yarrow
Monthly Planting Guide for California
The Gardener's Encyclopedia to Companion Planting
$27
$293 value
The pairings that make vegetables, herbs, and flowers grow better — and the ones that quietly wreck a bed.
- Proven pairings for 200+ vegetables, herbs, flowers, and fruits
- Full seed-starting + planting schedule with timing and spacing
- Bonus: square-foot gardening guide + printable seasonal planners