When to Plant in California: Vegetable & Flower Planting Calendar

California spans USDA hardiness zones 5b–11a on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM). For the 1241 of its 1802 ZIP codes where frost comes in most years, the nearest NOAA station’s median last spring frost (32°F, 1991–2020) is Feb 20 (middle 80% of ZIP codes: Jan 10 – May 11) and the median first fall frost is Dec 2 (Oct 16 – Dec 23). Use this guide to time seed-starting, transplanting and fall planting.

Where these dates come from: every date range is counted from the median (50% probability) 32°F last spring and first fall frost dates in NOAA’s 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals for the area shown. The rule under each date, such as “4–6 weeks before last frost,” shows how it was counted. These are averages: in about half of years a frost still comes after the spring date, and elevation, nearby water and microclimate can shift your yard by a week or more. For dates for your exact location, enter your ZIP code in the planner.

How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).

Frost is rare in part of California: for 560 of its 1802 ZIP codes (31%), the nearest NOAA station records 32°F in fewer than half of years, so there is no reliable frost date to count from. For those ZIP codes: planting dates from the UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County (San Diego County, starting 919–921) or the UC Master Gardeners’ statewide table (South Coast, starting 900–935; northern California, starting 939–954; and the Coachella and Imperial desert valleys, starting 922; see below); other frost-rare ZIP codes: your local Cooperative Extension office (UC Cooperative Extension county offices (UC ANR)).

No nearby frost data for some ZIP codes: 1 of California’s 1802 ZIP codes have no NOAA freeze-data station within 60 miles, so they aren’t counted above. If you know your local frost dates, enter them in the planner.

California frost dates by zone area

Source: NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI), U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, annual/seasonal freeze-date probabilities (32°F, 50% probability). Station-level medians; your yard may differ.

How this table is built: each California ZIP code is matched to its nearest NOAA 1991–2020 freeze-data station (within 60 miles) and grouped by its 2023 USDA hardiness zone; dates are medians across the ZIP codes in each group. Zone groups with fewer than 5% of ZIP codes (38 ZIP codes) are left out of the columns. Some nearest stations are across the state line (Brookings 2 Se, OR, Cave Junction 1 Wnw, OR, Dagget Pass, NV, Incline Village, NV, Keno, OR, Minden, NV…). For your own ZIP, use the planner.

California vegetable planting calendar

Planting dates for each zone area of California, counted from that area’s median frost dates (shown under each column). Rows run in calendar order. For your exact dates, enter your ZIP.

Planting dates for coastal San Diego County

For San Diego County ZIP codes (starting 919, 920 or 921), where frost is rare, the planner uses this UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County table instead of frost dates. This table uses the guide’s Coastal column; inland San Diego gardens may differ.

Source: UC Cooperative Extension / UC Master Gardeners of San Diego County, Vegetable Garden Planting Guide for San Diego County (V. Lazaneo), Recommended Planting Dates, Coastal column. The UC guide gives no days to harvest, so harvest uses UF/IFAS VH021 days to harvest. (UF/IFAS VH021) Harvest windows add those days to the planting dates and vary with variety and weather. This table uses the guide’s Coastal column; inland San Diego gardens may differ. Not in this table: Pumpkins, Basil, Marigolds, Zinnias, Tulips, Daffodils, Garlic.

Planting dates for the South Coast of California (San Luis Obispo County south)

For frost-rare ZIP codes from San Luis Obispo County south (starting 900–935, except San Diego’s 919–921, the 922 desert valleys, which have their own table below, and Kern County’s 932–933), where frost is rare, the planner uses this UC Master Gardeners (Los Angeles County) table instead of frost dates. This table uses the South Coast column (San Luis Obispo County south). Inland valleys and deserts follow a different calendar.

Source: UC Cooperative Extension Los Angeles County Master Gardeners, Vegetable Gardening Handbook for Beginners (2017), p. 14, Recommended Vegetable Planting Dates for California (adapted from the California Master Gardener Handbook), South Coast column. The UC table gives no days to harvest and doesn’t say whether dates are for seed or transplants, so harvest uses UF/IFAS VH021 days to harvest, counted from seeding, planting or (for crops the UC table says can be set out as transplants) transplanting. (UF/IFAS VH021) Harvest windows add those days to the planting dates and vary with variety and weather. This table uses the South Coast column (San Luis Obispo County south). Inland valleys and deserts follow a different calendar. Not in this table: Cabbage, Kale, Basil, Marigolds, Zinnias, Tulips, Daffodils.

Planting dates for northern California (Monterey County north)

For frost-rare ZIP codes from Monterey County north (starting 939–954), where frost is rare, the planner uses this UC Master Gardeners (Los Angeles County) table instead of frost dates. Dates are for northern California as a whole, including colder inland areas, so they can be conservative for the coast.

Source: UC Cooperative Extension Los Angeles County Master Gardeners, Vegetable Gardening Handbook for Beginners (2017), p. 14, Recommended Vegetable Planting Dates for California (adapted from the California Master Gardener Handbook), North and North Coast column. The UC table gives no days to harvest and doesn’t say whether dates are for seed or transplants, so harvest uses UF/IFAS VH021 days to harvest, counted from seeding, planting or (for crops the UC table says can be set out as transplants) transplanting. (UF/IFAS VH021) Harvest windows add those days to the planting dates and vary with variety and weather. Dates are for northern California as a whole, including colder inland areas, so they can be conservative for the coast. Not in this table: Cabbage, Kale, Basil, Marigolds, Zinnias, Tulips, Daffodils.

Planting dates for California’s desert valleys (Imperial and Coachella valleys)

For frost-rare ZIP codes in the Coachella and Imperial valleys (starting 922), where frost is rare, the planner uses this UC Master Gardeners (Los Angeles County) table instead of frost dates. This table uses the Desert Valleys column (Imperial and Coachella valleys).

Source: UC Cooperative Extension Los Angeles County Master Gardeners, Vegetable Gardening Handbook for Beginners (2017), p. 14, Recommended Vegetable Planting Dates for California (adapted from the California Master Gardener Handbook), Desert Valleys column. The UC table gives no days to harvest and doesn’t say whether dates are for seed or transplants, so harvest uses UF/IFAS VH021 days to harvest, counted from seeding, planting or (for crops the UC table says can be set out as transplants) transplanting. (UF/IFAS VH021) Harvest windows add those days to the planting dates and vary with variety and weather. This table uses the Desert Valleys column (Imperial and Coachella valleys). Not in this table: Cabbage, Kale, Basil, Marigolds, Zinnias, Tulips, Daffodils.

Other frost-rare California ZIP codes are not covered by these tables; check with your local Cooperative Extension office (UC Cooperative Extension county offices (UC ANR)).

California USDA zone guides: Zone 5 planting guide Zone 6 planting guide Zone 7 planting guide Zone 8 planting guide Zone 9 planting guide Zone 10 planting guide Zone 11 planting guide

How we count planting dates: the weeks before or after frost for each crop come from university extension planting guides: UNH Extension, When to Plant Your Vegetable Garden; Rutgers FS787, Starting Vegetable Seeds Indoors; Virginia Tech 426-331, Home Garden Vegetable Planting Guide; University of Maryland Extension, Vegetable Planting Calendar; and University of Idaho CIS 1209 (marigolds and zinnias). Bulb windows approximate Rutgers’ rule to plant when soil falls below 60°F (FS1220), and garlic follows SDSU, Illinois and Virginia Tech. Temperature notes: UMD (potatoes), UMN (sweet corn), UC ANR (peppers, hardening off), UMN (eggplant), Colorado State (tomatoes) and SDSU (hardening off).

Tips for California gardeners

• Watch soil temperature, not just the calendar — warm-season crops stall in cold soil. An inexpensive soil thermometer helps.
• Harden off transplants over 7–10 days before planting out (UC ANR, SDSU).
• Ask your local Cooperative Extension office about varieties and timing for your county; find it in the UC Cooperative Extension county offices (UC ANR) or the USDA NIFA land-grant university directory.
• Keep weeds down early — see our weed identification guide.

Other state planting calendars

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