Elk Grove, California planting calendar and frost dates
Elk Grove is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 2 and the first fall frost around December 2, giving about 301 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 2
- Typical first frost
- December 2
- Frost-free season
- 301 days
Frost dates in Elk Grove
Last spring frost
- January 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 2Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 5Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 16Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 2Typical: 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 301 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 4 and returns around December 16.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Sacramento Executive Airport, 9.5 miles NW 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 Elk Grove
January
Start indoors: cilantro, ginger, 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, 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, avocados, beets, carrots, 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: avocados, garden mums, ginger, green onions, st. augustinegrass
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, okra, 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, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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, 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, 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 Elk Grove
All 3 of Elk Grove's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Sacramento Executive Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Elk Grove
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 19 to 26 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 22 to Jan 5 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 8 to 22 | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Sep 2 to Oct 7 |
| Cilantro | Dec 22 to Jan 5 | Feb 2 to 9 | — |
| Basil | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 6 to 13 | Aug 12 to 19 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 22 to Jan 5 | Dec 2 to 16 |
| Onions | Oct 13 to Nov 24 | Jan 5 to 19 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Sep 2 to 16 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 1 to Mar 1 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 12 to Sep 9 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 12 to Feb 2 | Sep 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 11 to 18 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 6 to 20 | Aug 26 to Sep 9 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | Sep 9 to 16 |
| Zucchini | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Sep 9 to 23 |
| Broccoli | Nov 17 to Dec 8 | Jan 5 to 19 | Sep 16 to Oct 14 |
| Peas | — | Dec 22 to Jan 5 | Sep 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Dec 22 to 29 | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Sep 23 to Oct 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 6 to 27 | — |
| Zinnias | May 7 to 14 | Jun 4 to 18 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 21 to Dec 16 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 21 to Dec 2 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 22 to Jan 5 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
Nearby cities
- Sacramento, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- West Sacramento, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 22
- Rancho Cordova, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Citrus Heights, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Lodi, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 9
- Davis, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 10
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Elk Grove
Questions
When is the last frost in Elk Grove?
Around February 2 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Sacramento Executive Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 5.
What planting zone is Elk Grove 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 Elk Grove?
Start seeds indoors February 22 to March 8 and set plants out April 19 to May 3.
When is the first frost in Elk Grove?
Around December 2 in a typical year, and before November 16 about 1 year in 10.