Gilroy, California planting calendar and frost dates
Gilroy is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 24 and the first fall frost around November 27, giving about 277 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 24
- Typical first frost
- November 27
- Frost-free season
- 277 days
Frost dates in Gilroy
Last spring frost
- January 23Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 24Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 10Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 27Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 18Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 277 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 16 and returns around December 12.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Gilroy, 0.9 miles S 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 Gilroy
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, 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, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: eggplants, peppers, ranunculus
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, 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
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
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: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Planting dates for popular crops in Gilroy
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Aug 14 to 21 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 13 to 27 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Aug 28 to Oct 2 |
| Cilantro | Jan 13 to 27 | Feb 24 to Mar 3 | — |
| Basil | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 28 to May 5 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 3 to 10 | Aug 7 to 14 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 13 to 27 | Nov 27 to Dec 11 |
| Onions | Nov 4 to Dec 16 | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 10 to Mar 10 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Aug 7 to Sep 4 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 3 to 24 | Sep 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 29 to Jun 5 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 28 to May 12 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 28 to May 12 | Sep 4 to 11 |
| Zucchini | Mar 31 to Apr 14 | Apr 28 to May 12 | Sep 4 to 18 |
| Broccoli | Dec 9 to 30 | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Sep 11 to Oct 9 |
| Peas | — | Jan 13 to 27 | Sep 4 to 18 |
| Spinach | Jan 13 to 20 | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Sep 18 to Oct 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 24 to Mar 17 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 9 to 16 | Jul 7 to 21 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 16 to Dec 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 16 to Nov 27 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 13 to 27 | Oct 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Watsonville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 28
- Salinas, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 29
- San Jose, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Santa Cruz, CA zone 9b, last frost Mar 25
- Santa Clara, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Cupertino, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Gilroy
Questions
When is the last frost in Gilroy?
Around February 24 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Gilroy. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 4.
What planting zone is Gilroy 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 Gilroy?
Start seeds indoors March 3 to 17 and set plants out April 28 to May 12.
When is the first frost in Gilroy?
Around November 27 in a typical year, and before November 10 about 1 year in 10.