Lodi, California planting calendar and frost dates
Lodi is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 9 and the first fall frost around December 5, giving about 301 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 9
- Typical first frost
- December 5
- Frost-free season
- 301 days
Frost dates in Lodi
Last spring frost
- January 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 9Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 7Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 17Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 5Typical: 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 301 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 12 and returns around December 20.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Lodi, 7.1 miles W 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 Lodi
January
Start indoors: cilantro, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard
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, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, ginger, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers
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
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, green beans, 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, carrots, 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, swiss chard, 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, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, 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, 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 Lodi
Lodi's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from February 6 in 95242 to February 9 in 95240. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Lodi
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 22 to 29 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 15 to 29 | Feb 2 to 16 | Sep 5 to Oct 10 |
| Cilantro | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | Feb 9 to 16 | — |
| Basil | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Apr 13 to 20 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 3 to 10 | Aug 15 to 22 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | Dec 5 to 19 |
| Onions | Oct 20 to Dec 1 | Jan 12 to 26 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 13 to 27 | Sep 5 to 19 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 13 to 27 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 26 to Feb 23 | Apr 13 to 27 | Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 19 to Feb 9 | Sep 12 to Oct 3 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 9 to 23 | Apr 13 to 27 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 9 to 23 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 13 to 27 | Sep 12 to 19 |
| Zucchini | Mar 16 to 30 | Apr 13 to 27 | Sep 12 to 26 |
| Broccoli | Nov 24 to Dec 15 | Jan 12 to 26 | Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Peas | — | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | Sep 12 to 26 |
| Spinach | Dec 29 to Jan 5 | Feb 2 to 16 | Sep 26 to Oct 31 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 9 to Mar 2 | — |
| Zinnias | May 5 to 12 | Jun 2 to 16 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 24 to Dec 19 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 24 to Dec 5 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | Oct 24 to Nov 7 |
Nearby cities
- Stockton, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Elk Grove, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 2
- Manteca, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Brentwood, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Tracy, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 19
- Antioch, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Lodi
Questions
When is the last frost in Lodi?
Around February 9 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Lodi. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 7.
What planting zone is Lodi 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 Lodi?
Start seeds indoors February 16 to March 2 and set plants out April 13 to 27.
When is the first frost in Lodi?
Around December 5 in a typical year, and before November 17 about 1 year in 10.