Mountain View, California planting calendar and frost dates
Mountain View is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 6 and the first fall frost around December 23, giving about 353 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- January 6
- Typical first frost
- December 23
- Frost-free season
- 353 days
Frost dates in Mountain View
Last spring frost
- December 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 6Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 4Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 23Typical: 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 353 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 1 and returns around December 31.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Moffett Federal Airfield, 2.6 miles NNW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Mountain View shares this station with Sunnyvale, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Mountain View
January
Start indoors: ginger
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, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, zinnias
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: eggplants, peppers
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, green onions, st. augustinegrass
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, st. augustinegrass
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
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, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
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: 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, zinnias
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 Mountain View
All 4 of Mountain View's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Moffett Federal Airfield, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 10a in 94043, 94303, and 9b in 94040, 94041.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 94040 | 9b | Moffett Federal Airfield, 2.7 mi NE | Jan 6 | Dec 23 |
| 94041 | 9b | Moffett Federal Airfield, 1.9 mi NE | Jan 6 | Dec 23 |
| 94043 | 10a | Moffett Federal Airfield, 2.6 mi NNW | Jan 6 | Dec 23 |
| 94303 | 10a | Moffett Federal Airfield, 5.1 mi SE | Jan 6 | Dec 23 |
Moffett Federal Airfield also supplies the frost dates for Sunnyvale and Palo Alto, so their planting calendars match Mountain View's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Mountain View
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Sep 9 to 16 |
| Strawberries | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 11 to 25 | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Sep 23 to Oct 28 |
| Cilantro | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Jan 6 to 13 | — |
| Basil | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 16 to 23 | Sep 2 to 9 |
| Garlic | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Dec 23 to Jan 6 |
| Onions | Sep 16 to Oct 28 | Dec 9 to 23 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Sep 23 to Oct 7 |
| Pumpkins | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 11 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Sep 2 to 30 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 16 to Jan 6 | Sep 30 to Oct 21 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 9 to 16 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 6 to 20 | Sep 16 to 30 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 29 to May 13 | Sep 30 to Oct 7 |
| Zucchini | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Sep 30 to Oct 14 |
| Broccoli | Oct 21 to Nov 11 | Dec 9 to 23 | Oct 7 to Nov 4 |
| Peas | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Sep 30 to Oct 14 |
| Spinach | Nov 25 to Dec 2 | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Oct 14 to Nov 18 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 6 to 27 | — |
| Zinnias | Dec 9 to 16 | Jan 6 to 20 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 11 to Jan 6 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 11 to Dec 23 |
| Grass Seed | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Nov 11 to 25 |
Nearby cities
- Sunnyvale, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 6
- Palo Alto, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 6
- Cupertino, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Santa Clara, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Fremont, CA zone 9b
- Milpitas, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 10aPrintable calendar for Mountain View
Questions
When is the last frost in Mountain View?
Around January 6 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Moffett Federal Airfield. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 4.
What planting zone is Mountain View in?
USDA hardiness zone 10a (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 Mountain View?
Start seeds indoors March 4 to 18 and set plants out April 29 to May 13.
When is the first frost in Mountain View?
Around December 23 in a typical year, and before December 3 about 1 year in 10.