Frost dates for Merced, 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 3
typical year
Safe to plant
April 10
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 24
typical year
Growing season
263 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 | – | Feb 3 – 17 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 20 – Feb 10 | Sep 29 – Oct 13 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 3 – 24 | Sep 29 – Oct 13 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 3 – Mar 17 | Oct 13 – 27 |
| Onions | – | Feb 3 – 17 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 10 – 24 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 10 – Mar 3 | Sep 1 – 15 |
| Beets | – | Feb 3 – 17 | Sep 15 – 29 |
| Kale | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Feb 3 – 17 | Sep 15 – 29 |
| Broccoli | Dec 23 – Jan 6 | Feb 17 – Mar 3 | Sep 15 – 29 |
| Cabbage | Dec 9 – 23 | Feb 3 – 17 | Sep 15 – 29 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 13 – Nov 3 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 13 – 27 | Apr 10 – 24 | – |
| Peppers | Feb 6 – 20 | Apr 17 – May 1 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Apr 10 – May 1 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Apr 10 – May 8 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Apr 10 – May 1 | – |
| Green beans | – | Apr 10 – Sep 15 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 10 – May 8 | – |
| Basil | Mar 6 – 20 | Apr 17 – 24 | – |
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 10 | March 3 | February 2 |
| Fall frost before | November 5 | November 24 | December 14 |
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 February 2 (March 11 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 11.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 2 towns.
Merced, Atwater
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station MERCED, CA US (USC00045532), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 7 zip codes, all within 20 miles:
95301, 95312, 95325, 95340, 95348, 95369, 95388
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.