Palmdale, California planting calendar and frost dates
Palmdale is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around March 10 and the first fall frost around November 19, giving about 248 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 10
- Typical first frost
- November 19
- Frost-free season
- 248 days
Frost dates in Palmdale
Last spring frost
- February 12Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 10Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 11Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 19Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 248 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 February 13 and returns around December 1.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Palmdale, 1.4 miles ENE 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 Palmdale
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
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, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, 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, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
July
August
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
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
October
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
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Palmdale
Palmdale's 5 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from March 10 in 93550 to April 3 in 93535. The hardiness zone is 8b in 93535, 93552, 93591, and 9a in 93550, 93551.
Planting dates for popular crops in Palmdale
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 6 to 13 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 13 to 27 | Mar 3 to 17 | Aug 20 to Sep 24 |
| Cilantro | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Mar 10 to 17 | — |
| Basil | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 17 to 24 | Jul 30 to Aug 6 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Nov 19 to Dec 3 |
| Onions | Nov 18 to Dec 30 | Feb 10 to 24 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 20 to Sep 3 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 27 to Feb 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | Jul 30 to Aug 27 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 17 to Mar 10 | Aug 27 to Sep 17 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 5 to 12 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 10 to 24 | Aug 13 to 27 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 27 to Sep 3 |
| Zucchini | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Broccoli | Dec 23 to Jan 13 | Feb 10 to 24 | Sep 3 to Oct 1 |
| Peas | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Aug 27 to Sep 10 |
| Spinach | Jan 27 to Feb 3 | Mar 3 to 17 | Sep 10 to Oct 15 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 10 to 31 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 26 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 8 to Dec 3 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 8 to Nov 19 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 27 to Feb 10 | Oct 8 to 22 |
Nearby cities
- Lancaster, CA zone 8b, last frost Apr 3
- Santa Clarita, CA zone 10a
- Glendale, CA zone 10a
- Pasadena, CA zone 10a
- Burbank, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 2
- Arcadia, CA zone 10a
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Palmdale
Questions
When is the last frost in Palmdale?
Around March 10 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Palmdale. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 11.
What planting zone is Palmdale in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 8b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Palmdale?
Start seeds indoors February 17 to March 3 and set plants out April 14 to 28.
When is the first frost in Palmdale?
Around November 19 in a typical year, and before November 3 about 1 year in 10.