Modesto, California planting calendar and frost dates
Modesto is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 31 and the first fall frost around December 5, giving about 312 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 31
- Typical first frost
- December 5
- Frost-free season
- 312 days
Frost dates in Modesto
Last spring frost
- December 31Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 31Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 25Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 20Risky: 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 312 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 8 and returns around December 21.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Modesto City Co Airport, 2.7 miles ESE 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 Modesto
January
Start indoors: cilantro, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, 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, 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, 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, ginger, 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, kale, 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 Modesto
All 8 of Modesto's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Modesto City Co 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95313 | 9b | Modesto City Co Airport, 2.7 mi ESE | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| 95350 | 9b | Modesto City Co Airport, 2.7 mi ESE | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| 95351 | 9b | Modesto City Co Airport, 2.7 mi ESE | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| 95354 | 9b | Modesto City Co Airport, 2.7 mi ESE | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| 95355 | 9b | Modesto City Co Airport, 2.7 mi ESE | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| 95356 | 9b | Modesto City Co Airport, 2.7 mi ESE | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| 95357 | 9b | Modesto City Co Airport, 2.7 mi ESE | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| 95358 | 9b | Modesto City Co Airport, 2.7 mi ESE | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
Planting dates for popular crops in Modesto
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 14 to 28 | Apr 11 to 25 | Aug 22 to 29 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 6 to 20 | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Sep 5 to Oct 10 |
| Cilantro | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Jan 31 to Feb 7 | — |
| Basil | Feb 21 to Mar 7 | Apr 11 to 18 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 5 to 12 | Aug 15 to 22 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Dec 5 to 19 |
| Onions | Oct 11 to Nov 22 | Jan 3 to 17 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 11 to 25 | Sep 5 to 19 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 11 to 25 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 24 to Feb 21 | Apr 11 to 25 | Aug 15 to Sep 12 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 10 to 31 | Sep 12 to Oct 3 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 7 to 21 | Apr 11 to 25 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 5 to 19 | Aug 29 to Sep 12 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 11 to 25 | Sep 12 to 19 |
| Zucchini | Mar 14 to 28 | Apr 11 to 25 | Sep 12 to 26 |
| Broccoli | Nov 15 to Dec 6 | Jan 3 to 17 | Sep 19 to Oct 17 |
| Peas | — | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Sep 12 to 26 |
| Spinach | Dec 20 to 27 | Jan 24 to Feb 7 | Sep 26 to Oct 31 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 5 to 26 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 28 to May 5 | May 26 to Jun 9 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 24 to Dec 19 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 24 to Dec 5 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 20 to Jan 3 | Oct 24 to Nov 7 |
Nearby cities
- Turlock, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 6
- Manteca, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Tracy, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 19
- Stockton, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Merced, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 26
- Lodi, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 9
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Modesto
Questions
When is the last frost in Modesto?
Around January 31 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Modesto City Co Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 25.
What planting zone is Modesto 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 Modesto?
Start seeds indoors February 14 to 28 and set plants out April 11 to 25.
When is the first frost in Modesto?
Around December 5 in a typical year, and before November 20 about 1 year in 10.