Frost dates for Independence, 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
March 31
typical year
Safe to plant
April 23
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 9
typical year
Growing season
224 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 | – | Mar 3 – 17 | – |
| Spinach | – | Feb 17 – Mar 10 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Lettuce | – | Mar 3 – 24 | Sep 14 – 28 |
| Radishes | – | Mar 3 – Apr 14 | Sep 28 – Oct 12 |
| Onions | – | Mar 3 – 17 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Mar 10 – 24 | – |
| Carrots | – | Mar 10 – 31 | Aug 17 – 31 |
| Beets | – | Mar 3 – 17 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Kale | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 3 – 17 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Broccoli | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 17 – 31 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Cabbage | Jan 6 – 20 | Mar 3 – 17 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28 – Oct 19 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | Apr 23 – May 7 | – |
| Peppers | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Apr 30 – May 14 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Apr 23 – May 14 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Apr 23 – May 21 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Apr 23 – May 14 | – |
| Green beans | – | Apr 23 – Aug 31 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 23 – May 21 | – |
| Basil | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Apr 30 – May 7 | – |
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 | April 23 | March 31 | March 4 |
| Fall frost before | October 27 | November 9 | November 22 |
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 March 6 (April 7 in a late year), and the first one in fall around November 21.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station INDEPENDENCE, CA US (USC00044232), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 3 zip codes, all within 18 miles:
93513, 93526, 93545
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.