Lake Elsinore, California planting calendar and frost dates
Lake Elsinore is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 28 and the first fall frost around December 18, giving about 329 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- January 28
- Typical first frost
- December 18
- Frost-free season
- 329 days
Frost dates in Lake Elsinore
Last spring frost
- December 24Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 27Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 18Typical: 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. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around January 1 and returns around December 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Elsinore, 2.5 miles W of the city center and 346 feet lower. 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 Lake Elsinore
January
Start indoors: eggplants, ginger, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
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
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
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: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
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, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
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
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
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
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 Lake Elsinore
Lake Elsinore's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from January 28 in 92530 to January 31 in 92570. The hardiness zone is 10a in 92530, and 9b in 92532, 92570.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lake Elsinore
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Sep 4 to 11 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 17 to 31 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 3 to 17 | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Sep 18 to Oct 23 |
| Cilantro | Dec 17 to 31 | Jan 28 to Feb 4 | — |
| Basil | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 26 to Apr 2 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 7 to 14 | Aug 28 to Sep 4 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 17 to 31 | Dec 18 to Jan 1 |
| Onions | Oct 8 to Nov 19 | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Sep 18 to Oct 2 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 8 to Feb 5 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Aug 28 to Sep 25 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 7 to 28 | Sep 25 to Oct 16 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 1 to 8 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Sep 11 to 25 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Sep 25 to Oct 2 |
| Zucchini | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Mar 26 to Apr 9 | Sep 25 to Oct 9 |
| Broccoli | Nov 12 to Dec 3 | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Oct 2 to 30 |
| Peas | — | Dec 17 to 31 | Sep 25 to Oct 9 |
| Spinach | Dec 17 to 24 | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Oct 9 to Nov 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 29 to May 6 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 6 to Jan 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 6 to Dec 18 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 17 to 31 | Nov 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- Menifee, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Perris, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 27
- Murrieta, CA zone 10a
- Riverside, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 9
- Temecula, CA zone 9b
- Corona, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 17
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Lake Elsinore
Questions
When is the last frost in Lake Elsinore?
Around January 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Elsinore. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 27.
What planting zone is Lake Elsinore in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 10a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lake Elsinore?
Start seeds indoors January 29 to February 12 and set plants out March 26 to April 9.
When is the first frost in Lake Elsinore?
Around December 18 in a typical year, and before December 1 about 1 year in 10.