Burbank, California planting calendar and frost dates
Burbank is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 2 and the first fall frost around December 26, giving about 364 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- January 2
- Typical first frost
- December 26
- Frost-free season
- 364 days
Frost dates in Burbank
Last spring frost
- December 11Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
- January 31Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 5Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 26Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- New yearLate: in about 1 year in 10, the first frost waits until after December 31
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 364 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Burbank Valley Pump Plt, 2.3 miles W of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Burbank
January
Start indoors: eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: st. augustinegrass
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: zinnias
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
October
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tulips, turnips
December
Start indoors: cilantro, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, peppers, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Burbank
All 5 of Burbank's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Burbank Valley Pump Plt, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 10a.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 91501 | 10a | Burbank Valley Pump Plt, 2.3 mi W | Jan 2 | Dec 26 |
| 91502 | 10a | Burbank Valley Pump Plt, 2.3 mi W | Jan 2 | Dec 26 |
| 91504 | 10a | Burbank Valley Pump Plt, 2.3 mi W | Jan 2 | Dec 26 |
| 91505 | 10a | Burbank Valley Pump Plt, 2.3 mi W | Jan 2 | Dec 26 |
| 91506 | 10a | Burbank Valley Pump Plt, 2.3 mi W | Jan 2 | Dec 26 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Burbank
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Sep 12 to 19 |
| Strawberries | — | Nov 21 to Dec 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 7 to 21 | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | Sep 26 to Oct 31 |
| Cilantro | Nov 21 to Dec 5 | Jan 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 12 to 19 | Sep 5 to 12 |
| Garlic | — | Nov 21 to Dec 5 | Dec 26 to Jan 9 |
| Onions | Sep 12 to Oct 24 | Dec 5 to 19 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Sep 26 to Oct 10 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 9 to Feb 6 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Sep 5 to Oct 3 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 12 to Jan 2 | Oct 3 to 24 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 16 to 23 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 2 to 16 | Sep 19 to Oct 3 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Oct 3 to 10 |
| Zucchini | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Oct 3 to 17 |
| Broccoli | Oct 17 to Nov 7 | Dec 5 to 19 | Oct 10 to Nov 7 |
| Peas | — | Nov 21 to Dec 5 | Oct 3 to 17 |
| Spinach | Nov 21 to 28 | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | Oct 17 to Nov 21 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 2 to 23 | — |
| Zinnias | May 22 to 29 | Jun 19 to Jul 3 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 14 to Jan 9 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 14 to Dec 26 |
| Grass Seed | — | Nov 21 to Dec 5 | Nov 14 to 28 |
Nearby cities
- Glendale, CA zone 10a
- Pasadena, CA zone 10a
- Los Angeles, CA zone 10b
- Alhambra, CA zone 10a
- Monterey Park, CA zone 10b
- Santa Monica, CA zone 11a
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 10aPrintable calendar for Burbank
Questions
When is the last frost in Burbank?
Around January 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Burbank Valley Pump Plt. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after January 31.
What planting zone is Burbank in?
USDA hardiness zone 10a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 10b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Burbank?
Start seeds indoors January 30 to February 13 and set plants out March 27 to April 10.
When is the first frost in Burbank?
Around December 26 in a typical year, and before December 5 about 1 year in 10.