Livermore, California planting calendar and frost dates
Livermore is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 15 and the first fall frost around December 2, giving about 292 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 15
- Typical first frost
- December 2
- Frost-free season
- 292 days
Frost dates in Livermore
Last spring frost
- January 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 13Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 16Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 2Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 28Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 292 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 10 and returns around December 18.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Livermore, 5.3 miles SW of the city center and 232 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Livermore shares this station with San Ramon, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Livermore
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: eggplants, peppers, ranunculus
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, 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
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
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, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
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, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Livermore
Livermore's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from February 15 in 94551 to May 3 in 94550. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94550 | 9b | Mt Hamilton, 12.7 mi SSW | May 3 | Nov 18 |
| 94551 | 9b | Livermore, 5.3 mi SW | Feb 15 | Dec 2 |
Livermore also supplies the frost dates for San Ramon, Pleasanton and Dublin, so their planting calendars match Livermore's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Livermore
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 2 to 16 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Aug 19 to 26 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 21 to Jan 4 | Feb 8 to 22 | Sep 2 to Oct 7 |
| Cilantro | Jan 4 to 18 | Feb 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 8 to 15 | Aug 12 to 19 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 4 to 18 | Dec 2 to 16 |
| Onions | Oct 26 to Dec 7 | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Sep 2 to 16 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 9 to Mar 9 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Aug 12 to Sep 9 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 25 to Feb 15 | Sep 9 to 30 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 27 to Jun 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 23 to Apr 6 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Aug 26 to Sep 9 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 27 to May 11 | Sep 9 to 16 |
| Zucchini | Mar 30 to Apr 13 | Apr 27 to May 11 | Sep 9 to 23 |
| Broccoli | Nov 30 to Dec 21 | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Sep 16 to Oct 14 |
| Peas | — | Jan 4 to 18 | Sep 9 to 23 |
| Spinach | Jan 4 to 11 | Feb 8 to 22 | Sep 23 to Oct 28 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 15 to Mar 8 | — |
| Zinnias | May 25 to Jun 1 | Jun 22 to Jul 6 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 21 to Dec 16 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 21 to Dec 2 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 4 to 18 | Oct 21 to Nov 4 |
Nearby cities
- Pleasanton, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- Dublin, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- San Ramon, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- Union City, CA zone 10a
- Fremont, CA zone 9b
- Tracy, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 19
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Livermore
Questions
When is the last frost in Livermore?
Around February 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Livermore. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 13.
What planting zone is Livermore 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 Livermore?
Start seeds indoors March 2 to 16 and set plants out April 27 to May 11.
When is the first frost in Livermore?
Around December 2 in a typical year, and before November 16 about 1 year in 10.