Fairfield, California planting calendar and frost dates
Fairfield is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 15 and the first fall frost around December 14, giving about 336 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 15
- Typical first frost
- December 14
- Frost-free season
- 336 days
Frost dates in Fairfield
Last spring frost
- December 22Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 16Safe: 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 336 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Fairfield, 2.3 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 Fairfield
January
Start indoors: ginger, ranunculus
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
February
Start indoors: celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, st. augustinegrass
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
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, 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
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, 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, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, 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 Fairfield
All 3 of Fairfield's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Fairfield, 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94533 | 9b | Fairfield, 2.3 mi NW | Jan 15 | Dec 14 |
| 94534 | 9b | Fairfield, 2.3 mi NW | Jan 15 | Dec 14 |
| 94535 | 9b | Fairfield, 2.3 mi NW | Jan 15 | Dec 14 |
Fairfield also supplies the frost dates for Vacaville, so their planting calendars match Fairfield's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Fairfield
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 31 to Sep 7 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 20 to Dec 4 | Jan 8 to 22 | Sep 14 to Oct 19 |
| Cilantro | Dec 4 to 18 | Jan 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 25 to Jan 1 | Aug 24 to 31 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 4 to 18 | Dec 14 to 28 |
| Onions | Sep 25 to Nov 6 | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Sep 14 to 28 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 1 to Mar 1 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Aug 24 to Sep 21 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 25 to Jan 15 | Sep 21 to Oct 12 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 17 to 24 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 19 to May 3 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 19 to May 3 | Sep 21 to 28 |
| Zucchini | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 19 to May 3 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Broccoli | Oct 30 to Nov 20 | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | Sep 28 to Oct 26 |
| Peas | — | Dec 4 to 18 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Spinach | Dec 4 to 11 | Jan 8 to 22 | Oct 5 to Nov 9 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 31 to Feb 21 | — |
| Zinnias | May 14 to 21 | Jun 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 2 to Dec 28 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 2 to Dec 14 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 4 to 18 | Nov 2 to 16 |
Nearby cities
- Vacaville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 15
- Napa, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 12
- Vallejo, CA zone 9b, last frost Mar 5
- Pittsburg, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 9
- Concord, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 9
- Antioch, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Fairfield
Questions
When is the last frost in Fairfield?
Around January 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Fairfield. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 16.
What planting zone is Fairfield 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 Fairfield?
Start seeds indoors February 22 to March 8 and set plants out April 19 to May 3.
When is the first frost in Fairfield?
Around December 14 in a typical year, and before November 29 about 1 year in 10.