Frost dates for Red Bluff, 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 22
typical year
Safe to plant
March 30
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 29
typical year
Growing season
281 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 25 – Feb 8 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 11 – Feb 1 | Oct 4 – 18 |
| Lettuce | – | Jan 25 – Feb 15 | Oct 4 – 18 |
| Radishes | – | Jan 25 – Mar 8 | Oct 18 – Nov 1 |
| Onions | – | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 1 – 15 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 1 – 22 | Sep 6 – 20 |
| Beets | – | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Kale | Dec 14 – 28 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Broccoli | Dec 14 – 28 | Feb 8 – 22 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Cabbage | Nov 30 – Dec 14 | Jan 25 – Feb 8 | Sep 20 – Oct 4 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 18 – Nov 8 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 2 – 16 | Mar 30 – Apr 13 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Apr 6 – 20 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 30 – Apr 27 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 30 – Apr 20 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 30 – Sep 20 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 30 – Apr 27 | – |
| Basil | Feb 23 – Mar 9 | Apr 6 – 13 | – |
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 30 | February 22 | January 17 |
| Fall frost before | November 12 | November 29 | December 18 |
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 13 (February 21 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 15.
Towns that use these dates
This is the nearest NOAA station with frost records for 2 towns.
Red Bluff, Tehama
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station RED BLUFF MUNI AP, CA US (USW00024216), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 7 zip codes, all within 20 miles:
96029, 96035, 96055, 96078, 96080, 96090, 96092
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.