Lancaster, California planting calendar and frost dates
Lancaster is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost typically comes around April 3 and the first fall frost around November 1, giving about 211 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- April 3
- Typical first frost
- November 1
- Frost-free season
- 211 days
Frost dates in Lancaster
Last spring frost
- March 8Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- April 3Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 23Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 17Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- November 14Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 211 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 March 8 and returns around November 10.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lancaster Wm J Fox Fld, 5.2 miles NW 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 Lancaster
January
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, peppers, pumpkins, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
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, perennial ryegrass, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, basil, beets, cantaloupes, carrots, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, perennial ryegrass, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
August
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
September
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
October
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, tall fescue, tulips
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: onions
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Lancaster
All 3 of Lancaster's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Lancaster Wm J Fox Fld, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 8a in 93534, and 8b in 93535, 93536.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lancaster
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Jul 19 to 26 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | — |
| Lettuce | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 2 to Sep 6 |
| Cilantro | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Apr 3 to 10 | — |
| Basil | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 13 to 20 | Jul 12 to 19 |
| Garlic | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Nov 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Dec 12 to Jan 23 | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 2 to 16 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 21 to May 5 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 3 to Mar 3 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Jul 12 to Aug 9 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 13 to Apr 3 | Aug 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 8 to 15 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 21 to May 5 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Apr 3 to 17 | Jul 26 to Aug 9 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 9 to 16 |
| Zucchini | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Broccoli | Jan 16 to Feb 6 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 16 to Sep 13 |
| Peas | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Aug 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Feb 20 to 27 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 23 to Sep 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Apr 3 to 24 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 27 to May 4 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 20 to Nov 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
Nearby cities
- Palmdale, CA zone 9a, last frost Mar 10
- Santa Clarita, CA zone 10a
- Glendale, CA zone 10a
- Burbank, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 2
- Pasadena, CA zone 10a
- Arcadia, CA zone 10a
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 8bPrintable calendar for Lancaster
Questions
When is the last frost in Lancaster?
Around April 3 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lancaster Wm J Fox Fld. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 23.
What planting zone is Lancaster in?
USDA hardiness zone 8b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8a and 9a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lancaster?
Start seeds indoors February 24 to March 10 and set plants out April 21 to May 5; the safest date to plant out is after April 23.
When is the first frost in Lancaster?
Around November 1 in a typical year, and before October 17 about 1 year in 10.