Mission Viejo, California planting calendar and frost dates
Mission Viejo is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 5 and the first fall frost around December 25, giving about 365 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 10b
- Typical last frost
- January 5
- Typical first frost
- December 25
- Frost-free season
- 365 days
Frost dates in Mission Viejo
Last spring frost
- December 14Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 5Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 2Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 25Typical: 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 365 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Tustin Irvine Rch, 8 miles NW of the city center and 297 feet lower. 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 Mission Viejo
January
Start indoors: basil, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, green onions, st. augustinegrass
March
Start indoors: celery, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Plant or sow outdoors: cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: zinnias
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
October
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, 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: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
December
Start indoors: cilantro, marigolds, nasturtiums, 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, peppers, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Mission Viejo
All 2 of Mission Viejo's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Tustin Irvine Rch, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 10b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Mission Viejo
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Sep 11 to 18 |
| Strawberries | — | Nov 24 to Dec 8 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 10 to 24 | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | Sep 25 to Oct 30 |
| Cilantro | Nov 24 to Dec 8 | Jan 5 to 12 | — |
| Basil | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Mar 19 to 26 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 15 to 22 | Sep 4 to 11 |
| Garlic | — | Nov 24 to Dec 8 | Dec 25 to Jan 8 |
| Onions | Sep 15 to Oct 27 | Dec 8 to 22 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Sep 25 to Oct 9 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 1 to 29 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Sep 4 to Oct 2 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 15 to Jan 5 | Oct 2 to 23 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 10 to 17 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 12 to 26 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 5 to 19 | Sep 18 to Oct 2 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 2 to 9 |
| Zucchini | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Oct 2 to 16 |
| Broccoli | Oct 20 to Nov 10 | Dec 8 to 22 | Oct 9 to Nov 6 |
| Peas | — | Nov 24 to Dec 8 | Oct 2 to 16 |
| Spinach | Nov 24 to Dec 1 | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | Oct 16 to Nov 20 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 5 to 26 | — |
| Zinnias | May 27 to Jun 3 | Jun 24 to Jul 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 13 to Jan 8 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 13 to Dec 25 |
| Grass Seed | — | Nov 24 to Dec 8 | Nov 13 to 27 |
Nearby cities
- Lake Forest, CA zone 10b
- Laguna Niguel, CA zone 10b
- Irvine, CA zone 10b
- San Clemente, CA zone 10b
- Newport Beach, CA zone 10b
- Tustin, CA zone 10a
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 10bPrintable calendar for Mission Viejo
Questions
When is the last frost in Mission Viejo?
Around January 5 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Tustin Irvine Rch. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 2.
What planting zone is Mission Viejo in?
USDA hardiness zone 10b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Mission Viejo?
Start seeds indoors January 22 to February 5 and set plants out March 19 to April 2.
When is the first frost in Mission Viejo?
Around December 25 in a typical year, and before December 3 about 1 year in 10.