El Cajon, California planting calendar and frost dates
El Cajon is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 6 and the first fall frost around December 21, giving about 350 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- January 6
- Typical first frost
- December 21
- Frost-free season
- 350 days
Frost dates in El Cajon
Last spring frost
- December 13Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 6Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 21Typical: 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 350 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for El Cajon, 2 miles ENE 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 El Cajon
January
Start indoors: basil, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, green onions, st. augustinegrass
March
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
April
Plant or sow outdoors: 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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
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, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, 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, kentucky bluegrass, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet peas, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, 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, turnips
December
Start indoors: cilantro, 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, 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 El Cajon
All 3 of El Cajon's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from El Cajon, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 10a in 92020, 92021, and 10b in 92019.
Planting dates for popular crops in El Cajon
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Sep 7 to 14 |
| Strawberries | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 11 to 25 | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Sep 21 to Oct 26 |
| Cilantro | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Jan 6 to 13 | — |
| Basil | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Mar 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 16 to 23 | Aug 31 to Sep 7 |
| Garlic | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Dec 21 to Jan 4 |
| Onions | Sep 16 to Oct 28 | Dec 9 to 23 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 1 to 29 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Aug 31 to Sep 28 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 16 to Jan 6 | Sep 28 to Oct 19 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 12 to 26 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 6 to 20 | Sep 14 to 28 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Sep 28 to Oct 5 |
| Zucchini | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
| Broccoli | Oct 21 to Nov 11 | Dec 9 to 23 | Oct 5 to Nov 2 |
| Peas | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
| Spinach | Nov 25 to Dec 2 | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Oct 12 to Nov 16 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 6 to 27 | — |
| Zinnias | May 19 to 26 | Jun 16 to 30 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 9 to Jan 4 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 9 to Dec 21 |
| Grass Seed | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Nov 9 to 23 |
Nearby cities
- Santee, CA zone 10a
- La Mesa, CA zone 10b
- San Diego, CA zone 10b
- National City, CA zone 10b
- Chula Vista, CA zone 10b
- Escondido, CA zone 9b
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 10aPrintable calendar for El Cajon
Questions
When is the last frost in El Cajon?
Around January 6 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for El Cajon. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 7.
What planting zone is El Cajon 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 El Cajon?
Start seeds indoors January 22 to February 5 and set plants out March 19 to April 2.
When is the first frost in El Cajon?
Around December 21 in a typical year, and before December 1 about 1 year in 10.