Frost dates for Paicines, 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
April 14
typical year
Safe to plant
May 9
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 2
typical year
Growing season
201 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 17 – 31 | – |
| Spinach | – | Mar 3 – 24 | Sep 7 – 21 |
| Lettuce | – | Mar 17 – Apr 7 | Sep 7 – 21 |
| Radishes | – | Mar 17 – Apr 28 | Sep 21 – Oct 5 |
| Onions | – | Mar 17 – 31 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | – |
| Carrots | – | Mar 24 – Apr 14 | Aug 10 – 24 |
| Beets | – | Mar 17 – 31 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Kale | Feb 3 – 17 | Mar 17 – 31 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Broccoli | Feb 3 – 17 | Mar 31 – Apr 14 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Cabbage | Jan 20 – Feb 3 | Mar 17 – 31 | Aug 24 – Sep 7 |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 21 – Oct 12 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Mar 14 – 28 | May 9 – 23 | – |
| Peppers | Mar 7 – 21 | May 16 – 30 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | May 9 – 30 | – |
| Zucchini | – | May 9 – Jun 6 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | May 9 – 30 | – |
| Green beans | – | May 9 – Aug 24 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 9 – Jun 6 | – |
| Basil | Apr 4 – 18 | May 16 – 23 | – |
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 9 | April 14 | March 15 |
| Fall frost before | October 16 | November 2 | 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 February 28 (April 1 in a late year), and the first one in fall around November 22.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station PAICINES 4 W, CA US (USC00046610), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 2 zip codes, all within 10 miles:
93925, 95075
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.