Frost dates for Redding, 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 19
typical year
Safe to plant
April 11
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
November 22
typical year
Growing season
250 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 19 – Mar 5 | – |
| Spinach | – | Feb 5 – 26 | Sep 27 – Oct 11 |
| Lettuce | – | Feb 19 – Mar 12 | Sep 27 – Oct 11 |
| Radishes | – | Feb 19 – Apr 2 | Oct 11 – 25 |
| Onions | – | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Feb 26 – Mar 12 | – |
| Carrots | – | Feb 26 – Mar 19 | Aug 30 – Sep 13 |
| Beets | – | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Sep 13 – 27 |
| Kale | Jan 8 – 22 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Sep 13 – 27 |
| Broccoli | Jan 8 – 22 | Mar 5 – 19 | Sep 13 – 27 |
| Cabbage | Dec 25 – Jan 8 | Feb 19 – Mar 5 | Sep 13 – 27 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 11 – Nov 1 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Feb 14 – 28 | Apr 11 – 25 | – |
| Peppers | Feb 7 – 21 | Apr 18 – May 2 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Apr 11 – May 2 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Apr 11 – May 9 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Apr 11 – May 2 | – |
| Green beans | – | Apr 11 – Sep 13 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 11 – May 9 | – |
| Basil | Mar 7 – 21 | Apr 18 – 25 | – |
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 11 | March 19 | February 17 |
| Fall frost before | November 4 | November 22 | December 13 |
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 10 (March 20 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 11.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station REDDING 12 WNW, CA US (USW00004222), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 2 zip codes, all within 6 miles:
96033, 96087
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.