Frost dates for Calaveras Big Trees, CA
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
May 7
typical year
Safe to plant
May 31
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
October 28
typical year
Growing season
169 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | Apr 9 – 23 | – |
| Spinach | – | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | Sep 2 – 16 |
| Lettuce | – | Apr 9 – 30 | Sep 2 – 16 |
| Radishes | – | Apr 9 – May 21 | Sep 16 – 30 |
| Onions | – | Apr 9 – 23 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Apr 16 – 30 | – |
| Carrots | – | Apr 16 – May 7 | Aug 5 – 19 |
| Beets | – | Apr 9 – 23 | Aug 19 – Sep 2 |
| Kale | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 9 – 23 | Aug 19 – Sep 2 |
| Broccoli | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 | Aug 19 – Sep 2 |
| Cabbage | Feb 12 – 26 | Apr 9 – 23 | Aug 19 – Sep 2 |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 16 – Oct 7 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Apr 5 – 19 | May 31 – Jun 14 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 29 – Apr 12 | Jun 7 – 21 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 31 – Jun 21 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 31 – Jun 28 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 31 – Jun 21 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 31 – Aug 19 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 31 – Jun 28 | – |
| Basil | Apr 26 – May 10 | Jun 7 – 14 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | May 31 | May 7 | April 18 |
| Fall frost before | October 5 | October 28 | November 16 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around April 18 (May 12 in a late year), and the first one in fall around November 14.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station CALAVERAS BIG TREES, CA US (USC00041277), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 6 zip codes, all within 13 miles:
95224, 95233, 95246, 95248, 95255, 95257
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.