Clovis, California planting calendar and frost dates
Clovis is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 14 and the first fall frost around December 14, giving about 337 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 14
- Typical first frost
- December 14
- Frost-free season
- 337 days
Frost dates in Clovis
Last spring frost
- December 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 14Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 29Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 14Typical: 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 337 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 January 1 and returns around December 24.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 3.7 miles NE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Clovis shares this station with Fresno, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Clovis
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, swiss chard, thyme
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, 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: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
August
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, 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 Clovis
All 3 of Clovis's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 93611 | 9b | Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 3.7 mi NE | Jan 14 | Dec 14 |
| 93612 | 9b | Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 3.7 mi NE | Jan 14 | Dec 14 |
| 93619 | 9b | Fresno Yosemite International Airport, 3.7 mi NE | Jan 14 | Dec 14 |
Fresno Yosemite International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Fresno, so their planting calendars match Clovis's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Clovis
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 31 to Sep 7 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 3 to 17 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 19 to Dec 3 | Jan 7 to 21 | Sep 14 to Oct 19 |
| Cilantro | Dec 3 to 17 | Jan 14 to 21 | — |
| Basil | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 5 to 12 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 24 to 31 | Aug 24 to 31 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 3 to 17 | Dec 14 to 28 |
| Onions | Sep 24 to Nov 5 | Dec 17 to 31 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | Sep 14 to 28 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 18 to Feb 15 | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 24 to Sep 21 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 24 to Jan 14 | Sep 21 to Oct 12 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 3 to 17 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 5 to 19 | Sep 21 to 28 |
| Zucchini | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Broccoli | Oct 29 to Nov 19 | Dec 17 to 31 | Sep 28 to Oct 26 |
| Peas | — | Dec 3 to 17 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Spinach | Dec 3 to 10 | Jan 7 to 21 | Oct 5 to Nov 9 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 3 to 24 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 17 to 24 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 2 to Dec 28 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 2 to Dec 14 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 3 to 17 | Nov 2 to 16 |
Nearby cities
- Fresno, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 14
- Madera, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 12
- Hanford, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 7
- Visalia, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 23
- Tulare, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- Merced, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 26
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Clovis
Questions
When is the last frost in Clovis?
Around January 14 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Fresno Yosemite International Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 11.
What planting zone is Clovis 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 Clovis?
Start seeds indoors February 8 to 22 and set plants out April 5 to 19.
When is the first frost in Clovis?
Around December 14 in a typical year, and before November 29 about 1 year in 10.