California frost dates
Typical and safer frost dates for 4 cities in California, each from its nearest NOAA station. Elevation matters here as much as latitude, so check the city closest to you.
| City | Last frost · typical | Last frost · safer | First frost · typical | Frost-free days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | Rare | Rare | Rare | 365 |
| San Diego | Rare | Rare | Rare | 365 |
| San Jose | Jan 2 | Jan 23 | Dec 25 | 362 |
| Fresno | Jan 14 | Feb 11 | Dec 14 | 337 |
Planting calendar for Los Angeles
The largest city we cover in California. Other cities: see their own page.
Frost dates
Frost is rare here.
The nearest station does not record a 32°F freeze in most years, so there is no frost date to count from. Plan by season instead: cool-season crops do best in fall and winter, warm-season crops in late winter to spring and again from late summer into fall, avoiding the peak of summer heat.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
As a general guide for frost-free climates, cool-season crops are usually sown from about October to February, and warm-season crops from about February to May and again from August to October. Local heat varies a lot, so check your soil temperature before you sow.
Cool-season crops: usually sown around now (general guide)
Typical frost-free season: 365 days. Station: Culver City, CA, 2 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Usually sown around now
General guide by month. Check your soil temperature.
Peahardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 50°F
How to time it
Sow peas in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 50°F.
Leaf lettucehardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 45°F
How to time it
Sow leaf lettuces in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 45°F.
Head lettucehardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 45°F
How to time it
Sow head lettuces in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 45°F.
Spinachhardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 45°F
How to time it
Sow spinach in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 45°F.
Kalehardy
Fall and winter
How to time it
Sow kale in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter.
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 55°F
How to time it
Sow swiss chards in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 55°F.
Broccolihardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 40°F
How to time it
Sow broccoli in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 40°F.
Cabbagehardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 55°F
How to time it
Sow cabbages in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 55°F.
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 55°F
How to time it
Sow cauliflower in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 55°F.
Brussels sproutshardy
Fall and winter
How to time it
Sow brussels sprouts in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter.
Collardshardy
Fall and winter
How to time it
Sow collards in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter.
Kohlrabihardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 40°F
How to time it
Sow kohlrabis in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 40°F.
Radishhardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 45°F
How to time it
Sow radishs in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 45°F.
Carrothalf hardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 45°F
How to time it
Sow carrots in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 45°F.
Beethalf hardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 45°F
How to time it
Sow beets in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 45°F.
Turniphardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 50°F
How to time it
Sow turnips in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 50°F.
Bulb onionhardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 60°F
How to time it
Sow bulb onions in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 60°F.
Green onionhardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 60°F
How to time it
Sow green onions in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 60°F.
Potatohalf hardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 45°F
How to time it
Sow potatoes in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 45°F.
Parsniphalf hardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 35°F
How to time it
Sow parsnips in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 35°F.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
Fall and winter
How to time it
Sow mustard greens in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter.
Arugulahalf hardy
Fall and winter
How to time it
Sow arugula in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter.
Parsleyhalf hardy
Fall and winter
Plant when soil reaches 45°F
How to time it
Sow parsley in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter. Soil should be at least 45°F.
Dillhalf hardy
Fall and winter
How to time it
Sow dill in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter.
Calendulahalf hardy
Fall and winter
How to time it
Sow calendulas in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Fall and winter
How to time it
Sow sweet alyssums in fall and winter, the cool season here. Summer heat makes cool-season crops bolt or turn bitter.
Usually sown at other times
General guide. Local heat varies.
Tomatotender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 70°F
How to time it
Plant tomatoes as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 70°F.
Peppertender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 65°F
How to time it
Plant peppers as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 65°F.
Eggplanttender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 60°F
How to time it
Plant eggplants as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 60°F.
Cucumbertender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 65°F
How to time it
Plant cucumbers as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 65°F.
Summer squashtender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 70°F
How to time it
Plant summer squashs as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 70°F.
Winter squashtender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 70°F
How to time it
Plant winter squashs as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 70°F.
Pumpkintender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 70°F
How to time it
Plant pumpkins as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 70°F.
Watermelontender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 60°F
How to time it
Plant watermelons as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 60°F.
Cantaloupetender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 68°F
How to time it
Plant cantaloupes as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 68°F.
Bush beantender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 72°F
How to time it
Plant bush beans as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 72°F.
Pole beantender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 72°F
How to time it
Plant pole beans as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 72°F.
Lima beantender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
How to time it
Plant lima beans as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit.
Sweet corntender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 55°F
How to time it
Plant sweet corns as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 55°F.
Basiltender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
How to time it
Plant basil as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit.
Marjoramtender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
How to time it
Plant marjorams as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit.
Zinniatender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
How to time it
Plant zinnias as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit.
Marigoldtender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
Plant when soil reaches 65°F
How to time it
Plant marigolds as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit. Soil should be at least 65°F.
Nasturtiumtender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
How to time it
Plant nasturtiums as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit.
Sunflowertender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
How to time it
Plant sunflowers as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit.
Mexican sunflowertender
Late winter to spring; late summer to fall
How to time it
Plant mexican sunflowers as the weather warms in late winter and spring, or again as the heat breaks in late summer and fall. Avoid the peak of summer, when many warm-season crops stop setting fruit.