Citrus Heights, California planting calendar and frost dates
Citrus Heights is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 12 and the first fall frost around December 16, giving about 341 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 12
- Typical first frost
- December 16
- Frost-free season
- 341 days
Frost dates in Citrus Heights
Last spring frost
- December 18Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 12Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 8Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 28Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 16Typical: 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 341 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Sacramento 5 Ese, 12.4 miles SW of the city center and 158 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Citrus Heights shares this station with Sacramento, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Citrus Heights
January
Start indoors: ginger, peppers
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, ginger, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, st. augustinegrass
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
October
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
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, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Citrus Heights
All 2 of Citrus Heights's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Sacramento 5 Ese, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95610 | 9b | Sacramento 5 Ese, 12.4 mi SW | Jan 12 | Dec 16 |
| 95621 | 9b | Sacramento 5 Ese, 11.3 mi SSW | Jan 12 | Dec 16 |
Sacramento 5 Ese also supplies the frost dates for Sacramento, Roseville, Folsom, Rancho Cordova and Rocklin, so their planting calendars match Citrus Heights's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Citrus Heights
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 12 to 26 | Apr 9 to 23 | Sep 2 to 9 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 1 to 15 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 17 to Dec 1 | Jan 5 to 19 | Sep 16 to Oct 21 |
| Cilantro | Dec 1 to 15 | Jan 12 to 19 | — |
| Basil | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 9 to 16 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 22 to 29 | Aug 26 to Sep 2 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 1 to 15 | Dec 16 to 30 |
| Onions | Sep 22 to Nov 3 | Dec 15 to 29 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 9 to 23 | Sep 16 to 30 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 9 to 23 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 22 to Feb 19 | Apr 9 to 23 | Aug 26 to Sep 23 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 22 to Jan 12 | Sep 23 to Oct 14 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 5 to 19 | Apr 9 to 23 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Sep 9 to 23 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 9 to 23 | Sep 23 to 30 |
| Zucchini | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 9 to 23 | Sep 23 to Oct 7 |
| Broccoli | Oct 27 to Nov 17 | Dec 15 to 29 | Sep 30 to Oct 28 |
| Peas | — | Dec 1 to 15 | Sep 23 to Oct 7 |
| Spinach | Dec 1 to 8 | Jan 5 to 19 | Oct 7 to Nov 11 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 30 to May 7 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 4 to Dec 30 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 4 to Dec 16 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 1 to 15 | Nov 4 to 18 |
Nearby cities
- Roseville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Rocklin, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Folsom, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Rancho Cordova, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Lincoln, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 11
- Sacramento, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Citrus Heights
Questions
When is the last frost in Citrus Heights?
Around January 12 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Sacramento 5 Ese. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 8.
What planting zone is Citrus Heights in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Citrus Heights?
Start seeds indoors February 12 to 26 and set plants out April 9 to 23.
When is the first frost in Citrus Heights?
Around December 16 in a typical year, and before November 28 about 1 year in 10.