California vegetable planting calendar 2027: frost dates and when to plant
In California, the average last spring frost is January 12 in Sacramento (NOAA 1991-2020 normals). The nearest weather stations to Los Angeles and San Francisco rarely record a frost. Below are planting dates for Sacramento, Los Angeles and San Francisco for 27 common vegetables and herbs, worked out the way the Rowtime app does it: NOAA's average frost dates for the nearest weather station, with the planting rules of state extension guides. Dates are for the 2027 season.
Rowtime: Garden Planner works these dates out for your own ZIP code in California, shows where each one comes from, and recalculates when a planting slips. Get Rowtime on the App Store.
Dates are estimates. Check your local extension office before you plant, and use your own frost records if you have them. Dates shift by a week or more within a state, so pick the city closest to your conditions.
Sacramento Los Angeles San Francisco
Sacramento
When to plant tomatoes in Sacramento?
In Sacramento, California, the average last spring frost is January 12 and the average first fall frost is December 16 (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, SACRAMENTO 5 ESE station, 7.4 km from ZIP 95814). Planting dates here follow the planting table for California's interior valleys from UC ANR UC Master Gardener Program, not frost dates. For tomatoes, plant outdoors April 1 to May 31. Dates are for the 2027 season; sources last checked October 20, 2026.
Frost dates for Sacramento (95814)
- Last spring frost: Jan 12 on average, Feb 8 for a 10% risk of a later frost.
- First fall frost: Dec 16 on average, Nov 28 for a 10% risk of an earlier frost.
- USDA hardiness zone 9b (PRISM 2023 listing).
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Beet | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Apr 30 Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Aug 31 |
| Broccoli | Plant outdoors: Dec 1 to Feb 28 Plant outdoors: Jul 1 to Jul 31 |
| Cabbage | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Feb 28 Plant outdoors: Jul 1 to Jul 31 |
| Carrot | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Apr 30 Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Sep 30 |
| Cauliflower | Plant outdoors: Jul 1 to Aug 31 |
| Cucumber | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jul 31 |
| Eggplant | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to May 31 |
| Green onion | Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Dec 31 |
| Kale | Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Sep 30 |
| Lettuce | Plant outdoors: Nov 1 to Mar 31 Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Aug 31 |
| Melon and watermelon | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jun 30 |
| Okra | Plant outdoors: May 1 to May 31 |
| Onion | Plant outdoors: Jan 1 to Mar 31 Plant outdoors: Oct 1 to Nov 30 |
| Pea | The planting table for California's interior valleys has no dates for pea. |
| Pepper | Plant outdoors: May 1 to May 31 |
| Potato | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Mar 31 Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Aug 31 |
| Snap bean | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to May 31 Plant outdoors: Jul 1 to Aug 31 |
| Spinach | Plant outdoors: Sep 1 to Jan 31 |
| Summer squash | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jul 31 |
| Sweet corn | Plant outdoors: Mar 1 to Jul 31 Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Aug 31 |
| Sweet potato | Plant out slips: Apr 1 to Jun 30 |
| Tomato | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to May 31 |
| Winter squash and pumpkin | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jun 30 |
| Basil | Sow outdoors: Apr 1 to Apr 30 |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors: Feb 1 to Feb 28 Sow outdoors: Sep 1 to Oct 31 |
| Dill | The planting table for California's interior valleys has no dates for dill. |
| Parsley | Plant outdoors: Dec 1 to May 31 |
Sacramento Los Angeles San Francisco
Los Angeles
When to plant tomatoes in Los Angeles?
In Los Angeles, California, the nearest NOAA weather station rarely records a frost (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, LOS ANGELES DWTN USC CAMPUS station, 1.7 km from ZIP 90012). Planting dates here follow the planting table for the California south coast from UC ANR UC Master Gardener Program, not frost dates. For tomatoes, plant outdoors April 1 to July 15. Dates are for the 2027 season; sources last checked October 20, 2026.
Frost dates for Los Angeles (90012)
- The nearest NOAA station rarely records a frost, so no frost dates are listed.
- USDA hardiness zone 10b (PRISM 2023 listing).
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Beet | Plant outdoors: Jan 1 to Sep 30 |
| Broccoli | Plant outdoors: Jan 1 to Feb 28 Plant outdoors: Jun 1 to Jul 31 |
| Cabbage | Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Feb 28 |
| Carrot | Plant outdoors: Jan 1 to Sep 30 |
| Cauliflower | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Feb 28 Plant outdoors: Jul 1 to Oct 31 |
| Cucumber | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jun 30 |
| Eggplant | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to May 31 |
| Green onion | Plant outdoors: Jan 1 to Dec 31 |
| Kale | Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Oct 31 |
| Lettuce | Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Apr 30 |
| Melon and watermelon | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to May 31 |
| Okra | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to May 31 |
| Onion | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Oct 31 |
| Pea | The planting table for the California south coast has no dates for pea. |
| Pepper | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to May 31 |
| Potato | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to May 31 Plant outdoors: Jun 1 to Aug 31 |
| Snap bean | Plant outdoors: Mar 1 to Aug 31 |
| Spinach | Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Mar 31 |
| Summer squash | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jun 30 |
| Sweet corn | Plant outdoors: Mar 1 to Jul 31 |
| Sweet potato | Plant out slips: Apr 1 to May 31 |
| Tomato | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jul 15 |
| Winter squash and pumpkin | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jun 30 |
| Basil | The planting table for the California south coast has no dates for basil. |
| Cilantro | The planting table for the California south coast has no dates for cilantro. |
| Dill | The planting table for the California south coast has no dates for dill. |
| Parsley | Plant outdoors: Dec 1 to May 31 |
Sacramento Los Angeles San Francisco
San Francisco
When to plant tomatoes in San Francisco?
In San Francisco, California, the nearest NOAA weather station rarely records a frost (NOAA 1991-2020 normals, SAN FRANCISCO DWTN station, 1.2 km from ZIP 94102). Planting dates here follow the planting table for the California north coast from UC ANR UC Master Gardener Program, not frost dates. For tomatoes, plant outdoors May 1 to May 31. Dates are for the 2027 season; sources last checked October 20, 2026.
Frost dates for San Francisco (94102)
- The nearest NOAA station rarely records a frost, so no frost dates are listed.
- USDA hardiness zone 10b (PRISM 2023 listing).
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Beet | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Aug 31 |
| Broccoli | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Apr 30 Plant outdoors: Jul 1 to Sep 30 |
| Cabbage | Plant outdoors: Jan 1 to Apr 30 Plant outdoors: Jul 1 to Sep 30 |
| Carrot | Plant outdoors: Jan 1 to May 31 Plant outdoors: Jul 1 to Aug 31 |
| Cauliflower | Plant outdoors: Jan 1 to Feb 28 Plant outdoors: Jun 1 to Jul 31 |
| Cucumber | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jun 30 |
| Eggplant | Plant outdoors: May 1 to May 31 |
| Green onion | Plant outdoors: Apr 1 to Jul 31 |
| Kale | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Apr 30 |
| Lettuce | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Aug 31 |
| Melon and watermelon | Plant outdoors: May 1 to May 31 |
| Okra | Plant outdoors: May 1 to May 31 |
| Onion | Plant outdoors: Nov 1 to Jan 31 Plant outdoors: Jan 1 to Mar 31 |
| Pea | The planting table for the California north coast has no dates for pea. |
| Pepper | Plant outdoors: May 1 to May 31 |
| Potato | Plant outdoors: Feb 1 to Feb 15 Plant outdoors: Apr 16 to May 31 |
| Snap bean | Plant outdoors: May 1 to Jun 30 Plant outdoors: Jul 1 to Jul 31 |
| Spinach | Plant outdoors: Aug 1 to Feb 28 |
| Summer squash | Plant outdoors: May 1 to Jul 31 |
| Sweet corn | Plant outdoors: May 1 to Jul 31 |
| Sweet potato | Plant out slips: May 1 to May 31 |
| Tomato | Plant outdoors: May 1 to May 31 |
| Winter squash and pumpkin | Plant outdoors: May 1 to May 31 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Feb 18 to May 19 Plant out seedlings: Apr 1 to Jun 30 |
| Cilantro | Sow outdoors: Mar 1 to May 31 Sow outdoors: Aug 1 to Oct 31 |
| Dill | Sow outdoors: Mar 1 to May 31 Sow outdoors: Sep 1 to Oct 31 |
| Parsley | Plant outdoors: Dec 1 to May 31 |
Sacramento Los Angeles San Francisco
Sources
Planting rules, in the order Rowtime tries them here:
- UC Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners of Tulare & Kings Counties, Vegetable Planting Guide for San Joaquin Valley Gardens. Checked October 21, 2026.
- UC Master Gardeners of Santa Clara County, Vegetable Planting Chart (central Santa Clara County). Checked October 21, 2026.
- UC ANR UC Master Gardener Program, Time of planting: Recommended planting dates (from California Master Gardener Handbook Table 13.2). Checked October 20, 2026.
Frost dates, locations and zones:
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 annual/seasonal (freeze probabilities).
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2025 Gazetteer Files: ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.
- PRISM Group, Oregon State University / USDA ARS, 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP code listings. PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 20 Oct 2026.
How the dates are worked out: a guide's rule such as "two weeks after the last frost" is applied to the station's NOAA date. Purdue's dates are 10% dates, so they are counted from the station's 10% date. When a guide gives no last date, the window closes early enough for the crop's longest days to harvest before the first fall frost. When a guide gives no first date for a fall planting, no fall window is shown. "Season too short" means the guide's window would close before it opens at this station's frost dates.
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