Apple Valley, California planting calendar and frost dates
Apple Valley is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 18 and the first fall frost around November 11, giving about 233 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 8b
- Typical last frost
- March 18
- Typical first frost
- November 11
- Frost-free season
- 233 days
Frost dates in Apple Valley
Last spring frost
- February 23Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 18Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 27Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 11Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 26Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 233 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around February 22 and returns around November 24.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Victorville, 0.5 miles S of the city center and 158 feet higher. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Apple Valley shares this station with Victorville, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Apple Valley
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Apple Valley
All 2 of Apple Valley's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Victorville, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 8b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92307 | 8b | Victorville, 0.5 mi S | Mar 18 | Nov 11 |
| 92308 | 8b | Victorville, 0.5 mi S | Mar 18 | Nov 11 |
Victorville also supplies the frost dates for Victorville and Hesperia, so their planting calendars match Apple Valley's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Apple Valley
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 29 to Aug 5 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Mar 11 to 25 | Aug 12 to Sep 16 |
| Cilantro | Feb 4 to 18 | Mar 18 to 25 | — |
| Basil | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 23 to 30 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 26 to Mar 5 | Jul 22 to 29 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 4 to 18 | Nov 11 to 25 |
| Onions | Nov 26 to Jan 7 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Aug 12 to 26 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 5 to Mar 5 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Jul 22 to Aug 19 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 25 to Mar 18 | Aug 19 to Sep 9 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 23 to May 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 5 to 19 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 23 to May 7 | Aug 19 to 26 |
| Zucchini | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Apr 23 to May 7 | Aug 19 to Sep 2 |
| Broccoli | Dec 31 to Jan 21 | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Aug 26 to Sep 23 |
| Peas | — | Feb 4 to 18 | Aug 19 to Sep 2 |
| Spinach | Feb 4 to 11 | Mar 11 to 25 | Sep 2 to Oct 7 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 18 to Apr 8 | — |
| Zinnias | May 3 to 10 | May 31 to Jun 14 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 30 to Nov 25 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 30 to Nov 11 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 4 to 18 | Sep 30 to Oct 14 |
Nearby cities
- Victorville, CA zone 8b, last frost Mar 18
- Hesperia, CA zone 8b, last frost Mar 18
- San Bernardino, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 27
- Highland, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 27
- Rialto, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 27
- Fontana, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 9
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Apple Valley
Questions
When is the last frost in Apple Valley?
Around March 18 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Victorville. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 12.
What planting zone is Apple Valley in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Apple Valley?
Start seeds indoors February 26 to March 12 and set plants out April 23 to May 7.
When is the first frost in Apple Valley?
Around November 11 in a typical year, and before October 27 about 1 year in 10.