Davis, California planting calendar and frost dates
Davis is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 10 and the first fall frost around December 1, giving about 295 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 10
- Typical first frost
- December 1
- Frost-free season
- 295 days
Frost dates in Davis
Last spring frost
- December 31Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 13Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 27Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 295 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 6 and returns around December 18.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Davis 2 Wsw Exp Farm, 1.8 miles SE 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 Davis
January
Start indoors: cilantro, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, 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, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: garden mums, ginger, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, 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, kentucky bluegrass, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet peas, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Davis
All 2 of Davis's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Davis 2 Wsw Exp Farm, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Davis
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 18 to 25 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 16 to 30 | Feb 3 to 17 | Sep 1 to Oct 6 |
| Cilantro | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Feb 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 10 to 17 | Aug 11 to 18 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Dec 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Oct 21 to Dec 2 | Jan 13 to 27 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 1 to Mar 1 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 11 to Sep 8 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 20 to Feb 10 | Sep 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 10 to 17 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 10 to 24 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | Sep 8 to 15 |
| Zucchini | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Sep 8 to 22 |
| Broccoli | Nov 25 to Dec 16 | Jan 13 to 27 | Sep 15 to Oct 13 |
| Peas | — | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Sep 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Dec 30 to Jan 6 | Feb 3 to 17 | Sep 22 to Oct 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 10 to Mar 3 | — |
| Zinnias | May 6 to 13 | Jun 3 to 17 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 20 to Dec 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 20 to Dec 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
Nearby cities
- Woodland, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 7
- West Sacramento, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 22
- Sacramento, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Vacaville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 15
- Elk Grove, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 2
- Fairfield, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 15
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Davis
Questions
When is the last frost in Davis?
Around February 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Davis 2 Wsw Exp Farm. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 11.
What planting zone is Davis 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 Davis?
Start seeds indoors February 22 to March 8 and set plants out April 19 to May 3.
When is the first frost in Davis?
Around December 1 in a typical year, and before November 13 about 1 year in 10.