Hemet, California planting calendar and frost dates
Hemet is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 31 and the first fall frost around December 10, giving about 315 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 31
- Typical first frost
- December 10
- Frost-free season
- 315 days
Frost dates in Hemet
Last spring frost
- December 31Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 31Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 28Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 22Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 10Typical: 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 315 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 3 and returns around December 21.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for San Jacinto, 5.7 miles NE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Hemet shares this station with Menifee, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Hemet
January
Start indoors: cilantro, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, st. augustinegrass
April
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, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
September
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: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, 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 Hemet
Hemet's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from January 10 in 92544 to January 31 in 92545. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 92543 | 9b | San Jacinto, 6.8 mi N | Jan 31 | Dec 10 |
| 92544 | 9b | Hemet, 6.4 mi N | Jan 10 | Dec 23 |
| 92545 | 9b | San Jacinto, 5.7 mi NE | Jan 31 | Dec 10 |
San Jacinto also supplies the frost dates for Menifee and San Jacinto, so their planting calendars match Hemet's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Hemet
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 27 to Sep 3 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 6 to 20 | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Sep 10 to Oct 15 |
| Cilantro | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Jan 31 to Feb 7 | — |
| Basil | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 10 to 17 | Aug 20 to 27 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Dec 10 to 24 |
| Onions | Oct 11 to Nov 22 | Jan 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | Sep 10 to 24 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 21 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 20 to Sep 17 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 10 to 31 | Sep 17 to Oct 8 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 8 to 22 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Sep 3 to 17 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 8 to 22 | Sep 17 to 24 |
| Zucchini | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
| Broccoli | Nov 15 to Dec 6 | Jan 3 to 17 | Sep 24 to Oct 22 |
| Peas | — | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
| Spinach | Dec 20 to 27 | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Oct 1 to Nov 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 31 to Feb 21 | — |
| Zinnias | May 5 to 12 | Jun 2 to 16 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 29 to Dec 24 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 29 to Dec 10 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
Nearby cities
- San Jacinto, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Beaumont, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 10
- Menifee, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Perris, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 27
- Murrieta, CA zone 10a
- Moreno Valley, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 27
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Hemet
Questions
When is the last frost in Hemet?
Around January 31 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for San Jacinto. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 28.
What planting zone is Hemet 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 Hemet?
Start seeds indoors February 11 to 25 and set plants out April 8 to 22.
When is the first frost in Hemet?
Around December 10 in a typical year, and before November 22 about 1 year in 10.