Frost dates for Elk Grove, 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
February 2
typical year
Safe to plant
March 5
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
December 2
typical year
Growing season
301 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 | – | Jan 5 – 19 | – |
| Spinach | – | Dec 22 – Jan 12 | Oct 7 – 21 |
| Lettuce | – | Jan 5 – 26 | Oct 7 – 21 |
| Radishes | – | Jan 5 – Feb 16 | Oct 21 – Nov 4 |
| Onions | – | Jan 5 – 19 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Jan 12 – 26 | – |
| Carrots | – | Jan 12 – Feb 2 | Sep 9 – 23 |
| Beets | – | Jan 5 – 19 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Kale | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Jan 5 – 19 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Broccoli | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Cabbage | Nov 10 – 24 | Jan 5 – 19 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 21 – Nov 11 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Jan 8 – 22 | Mar 5 – 19 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 1 – 15 | Mar 12 – 26 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 5 – 26 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 5 – Apr 2 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 5 – 26 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 5 – Sep 23 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 5 – Apr 2 | – |
| Basil | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 12 – 19 | – |
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 | March 5 | February 2 | January 2 |
| Fall frost before | November 16 | December 2 | January 2 |
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 January 4 (February 1 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 16.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 2 towns.
Elk Grove, West Sacramento
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AP, CA US (USW00023232), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 11 zip codes, all within 14 miles:
95605, 95612, 95615, 95639, 95757, 95758, 95818, 95822, 95823, 95831, 95832
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.