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Highland, California planting calendar and frost dates

Highland is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 27 and the first fall frost around December 19, giving about 329 frost-free days a year.

Hardiness zone
Zone 10a
Typical last frost
January 27
Typical first frost
December 19
Frost-free season
329 days

Frost dates in Highland

Last spring frost

  • December 21Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
  • January 27Typical: a later frost in half of years
  • February 28Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10

First fall frost

  • December 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
  • December 19Typical: 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 329 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Redlands, 7.3 miles SE of the city center and 359 feet higher. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Highland shares this station with San Bernardino, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.

What to plant each month in Highland

  1. January

    Start indoors: ginger, peppers, ranunculus

    Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, 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

    Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips

  2. 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

  3. March

    Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

    Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, st. augustinegrass

  4. April

    Start indoors: cosmos, okra

    Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini

  5. May

    Start indoors: zinnias

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass

  6. June

    Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass

  7. August

    Plant for fall: peppers, potatoes

  8. September

    Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini

  9. October

    Start indoors: onions

    Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini

  10. November

    Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, 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

  11. 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, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, 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 Highland

All 3 of Highland's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Redlands, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 10a.

ZIP codeZoneWeather stationTypical last frostTypical first frost
9234610aRedlands, 7.3 mi SEJan 27Dec 19
9235910aRedlands, 7.6 mi WSWJan 27Dec 19
9241010aRedlands, 7.3 mi SEJan 27Dec 19

Redlands also supplies the frost dates for San Bernardino, Moreno Valley, Rialto, Perris, Redlands and Yucaipa and 1 more cities, so their planting calendars match Highland's.

Planting dates for popular crops in Highland

PlantStart indoorsPlant or sow outdoorsFall planting
TomatoesFeb 8 to 22Apr 5 to 19Sep 5 to 12
Strawberries—Dec 16 to 30—
LettuceDec 2 to 16Jan 20 to Feb 3Sep 19 to Oct 24
CilantroDec 16 to 30Jan 27 to Feb 3—
BasilFeb 15 to Mar 1Apr 5 to 12—
Potatoes—Jan 6 to 13Aug 29 to Sep 5
Garlic—Dec 16 to 30Dec 19 to Jan 2
OnionsOct 7 to Nov 18Dec 30 to Jan 13—
CucumbersMar 8 to 22Apr 5 to 19Sep 19 to Oct 3
PumpkinsMar 8 to 22Apr 5 to 19—
PeppersJan 18 to Feb 15Apr 5 to 19Aug 29 to Sep 26
Carrots—Jan 6 to 27Sep 26 to Oct 17
Sweet Potatoes—May 7 to 14—
WatermelonsMar 1 to 15Apr 5 to 19—
Sweet Corn—Jan 27 to Feb 10Sep 12 to 26
Green Beans—Apr 5 to 19Sep 26 to Oct 3
ZucchiniMar 8 to 22Apr 5 to 19Sep 26 to Oct 10
BroccoliNov 11 to Dec 2Dec 30 to Jan 13Oct 3 to 31
Peas—Dec 16 to 30Sep 26 to Oct 10
SpinachDec 16 to 23Jan 20 to Feb 3Oct 10 to Nov 14
Sunflowers—Jan 27 to Feb 17—
ZinniasMay 10 to 17Jun 7 to 21—
Tulips——Nov 7 to Jan 2
Daffodils——Nov 7 to Dec 19
Grass Seed—Dec 16 to 30Nov 7 to 21

Nearby cities

Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 10aPrintable calendar for Highland

Questions

When is the last frost in Highland?

Around January 27 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Redlands. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 28.

What planting zone is Highland in?

USDA hardiness zone 10a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.

When should I plant tomatoes in Highland?

Start seeds indoors February 8 to 22 and set plants out April 5 to 19.

When is the first frost in Highland?

Around December 19 in a typical year, and before December 1 about 1 year in 10.