Manteca, California planting calendar and frost dates
Manteca is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 6 and the first fall frost around December 1, giving about 304 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 6
- Typical first frost
- December 1
- Frost-free season
- 304 days
Frost dates in Manteca
Last spring frost
- December 31Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 6Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 28Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 15Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 1Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 26Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 304 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 16.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Stockton Metro Airport, 10.1 miles N of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Manteca shares this station with Stockton, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Manteca
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, 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
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
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, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, 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 Manteca
All 2 of Manteca's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Stockton Metro Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95336 | 9b | Stockton Metro Airport, 5.9 mi SE | Feb 6 | Dec 1 |
| 95337 | 9b | Stockton Metro Airport, 10.1 mi N | Feb 6 | Dec 1 |
Stockton Metro Airport also supplies the frost dates for Stockton, so their planting calendars match Manteca's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Manteca
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 12 to 26 | Aug 18 to 25 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 12 to 26 | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Sep 1 to Oct 6 |
| Cilantro | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | Feb 6 to 13 | — |
| Basil | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Apr 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 2 to 9 | Aug 11 to 18 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | Dec 1 to 15 |
| Onions | Oct 17 to Nov 28 | Jan 9 to 23 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 12 to 26 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 25 to Feb 22 | Apr 12 to 26 | Aug 11 to Sep 8 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 16 to Feb 6 | Sep 8 to 29 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 6 to 20 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 12 to 26 | Sep 8 to 15 |
| Zucchini | Mar 15 to 29 | Apr 12 to 26 | Sep 8 to 22 |
| Broccoli | Nov 21 to Dec 12 | Jan 9 to 23 | Sep 15 to Oct 13 |
| Peas | — | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | Sep 8 to 22 |
| Spinach | Dec 26 to Jan 2 | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Sep 22 to Oct 27 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 6 to 27 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 29 to May 6 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 20 to Dec 15 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 20 to Dec 1 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | Oct 20 to Nov 3 |
Nearby cities
- Tracy, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 19
- Stockton, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Modesto, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Lodi, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 9
- Turlock, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 6
- Brentwood, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Manteca
Questions
When is the last frost in Manteca?
Around February 6 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Stockton Metro Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 28.
What planting zone is Manteca 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 Manteca?
Start seeds indoors February 15 to March 1 and set plants out April 12 to 26.
When is the first frost in Manteca?
Around December 1 in a typical year, and before November 15 about 1 year in 10.