Madera, California planting calendar and frost dates
Madera is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 12 and the first fall frost around November 30, giving about 293 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- February 12
- Typical first frost
- November 30
- Frost-free season
- 293 days
Frost dates in Madera
Last spring frost
- January 6Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 12Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 14Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 30Typical: 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 293 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 7 and returns around December 15.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Madera Muni Airport, 6.4 miles NE 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 Madera
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, 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: asparagus, garden mums, ginger, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet peas, tall fescue
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, 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
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, 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, garlic, 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, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Madera
All 2 of Madera's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Madera Muni Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 9a in 93637, and 9b in 93638.
Planting dates for popular crops in Madera
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 17 to 24 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 1 to 15 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | Feb 5 to 19 | Aug 31 to Oct 5 |
| Cilantro | Jan 1 to 15 | Feb 12 to 19 | — |
| Basil | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 5 to 12 | Aug 10 to 17 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 1 to 15 | Nov 30 to Dec 14 |
| Onions | Oct 23 to Dec 4 | Jan 15 to 29 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 31 to Sep 14 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 27 to Feb 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 10 to Sep 7 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 22 to Feb 12 | Sep 7 to 28 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 12 to 26 | Aug 24 to Sep 7 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 14 to 28 | Sep 7 to 14 |
| Zucchini | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Broccoli | Nov 27 to Dec 18 | Jan 15 to 29 | Sep 14 to Oct 12 |
| Peas | — | Jan 1 to 15 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Spinach | Jan 1 to 8 | Feb 5 to 19 | Sep 21 to Oct 26 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 12 to Mar 5 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 27 to May 4 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 19 to Dec 14 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 19 to Nov 30 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 1 to 15 | Oct 19 to Nov 2 |
Nearby cities
- Fresno, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 14
- Clovis, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 14
- Merced, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 26
- Hanford, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 7
- Turlock, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 6
- Visalia, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 23
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Madera
Questions
When is the last frost in Madera?
Around February 12 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Madera Muni Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 17.
What planting zone is Madera in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 9b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Madera?
Start seeds indoors February 17 to March 3 and set plants out April 14 to 28.
When is the first frost in Madera?
Around November 30 in a typical year, and before November 14 about 1 year in 10.