Hanford, California planting calendar and frost dates
Hanford is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 7 and the first fall frost around December 1, giving about 296 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- February 7
- Typical first frost
- December 1
- Frost-free season
- 296 days
Frost dates in Hanford
Last spring frost
- January 9Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 7Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 16Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 22Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 296 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 12 and returns around December 14.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Hanford 1 S, 1.8 miles NNW 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 Hanford
January
Start indoors: cilantro, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, 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: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, 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, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: garden mums, ginger, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
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
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
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, 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, 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: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Planting dates for popular crops in Hanford
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 18 to 25 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 13 to 27 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Sep 1 to Oct 6 |
| Cilantro | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | Feb 7 to 14 | — |
| Basil | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 7 to 14 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 9 to 16 | Aug 11 to 18 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | Dec 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Oct 18 to Nov 29 | Jan 10 to 24 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 20 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 11 to Sep 8 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 17 to Feb 7 | Sep 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 7 to 21 | Sep 8 to 15 |
| Zucchini | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Sep 8 to 22 |
| Broccoli | Nov 22 to Dec 13 | Jan 10 to 24 | Sep 15 to Oct 13 |
| Peas | — | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | Sep 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Dec 27 to Jan 3 | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Sep 22 to Oct 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 9 to Mar 2 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 21 to 28 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 20 to Dec 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 20 to Dec 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 27 to Jan 10 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
Nearby cities
- Visalia, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 23
- Tulare, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- Fresno, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 14
- Clovis, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 14
- Porterville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 20
- Delano, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Hanford
Questions
When is the last frost in Hanford?
Around February 7 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Hanford 1 S. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 4.
What planting zone is Hanford in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Hanford?
Start seeds indoors February 10 to 24 and set plants out April 7 to 21.
When is the first frost in Hanford?
Around December 1 in a typical year, and before November 16 about 1 year in 10.