Pittsburg, California planting calendar and frost dates
Pittsburg is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 9 and the first fall frost around December 14, giving about 343 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 9
- Typical first frost
- December 14
- Frost-free season
- 343 days
Frost dates in Pittsburg
Last spring frost
- December 16Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 9Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 12Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 28Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 14Typical: 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 343 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Concord Buchanan Fld, 1.6 miles NW of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Pittsburg shares this station with Concord, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Pittsburg
January
Start indoors: ginger, peppers
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, ginger, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, st. augustinegrass
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, 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
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, 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, daylilies, 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, 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
December
Start indoors: cilantro, ginger, 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, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Planting dates for popular crops in Pittsburg
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 19 to Mar 5 | Apr 16 to 30 | Aug 31 to Sep 7 |
| Strawberries | — | Nov 28 to Dec 12 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 14 to 28 | Jan 2 to 16 | Sep 14 to Oct 19 |
| Cilantro | Nov 28 to Dec 12 | Jan 9 to 16 | — |
| Basil | Feb 26 to Mar 12 | Apr 16 to 23 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 19 to 26 | Aug 24 to 31 |
| Garlic | — | Nov 28 to Dec 12 | Dec 14 to 28 |
| Onions | Sep 19 to Oct 31 | Dec 12 to 26 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 to 30 | Sep 14 to 28 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 to 30 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 29 to Feb 26 | Apr 16 to 30 | Aug 24 to Sep 21 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 19 to Jan 9 | Sep 21 to Oct 12 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 15 to 22 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 12 to 26 | Apr 16 to 30 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Sep 7 to 21 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 16 to 30 | Sep 21 to 28 |
| Zucchini | Mar 19 to Apr 2 | Apr 16 to 30 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Broccoli | Oct 24 to Nov 14 | Dec 12 to 26 | Sep 28 to Oct 26 |
| Peas | — | Nov 28 to Dec 12 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Spinach | Nov 28 to Dec 5 | Jan 2 to 16 | Oct 5 to Nov 9 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 25 to Feb 15 | — |
| Zinnias | May 14 to 21 | Jun 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 2 to Dec 28 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 2 to Dec 14 |
| Grass Seed | — | Nov 28 to Dec 12 | Nov 2 to 16 |
Nearby cities
- Antioch, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Concord, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 9
- Walnut Creek, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 9
- Brentwood, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- San Ramon, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- Fairfield, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 15
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Pittsburg
Questions
When is the last frost in Pittsburg?
Around January 9 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Concord Buchanan Fld. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 12.
What planting zone is Pittsburg 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 Pittsburg?
Start seeds indoors February 19 to March 5 and set plants out April 16 to 30.
When is the first frost in Pittsburg?
Around December 14 in a typical year, and before November 28 about 1 year in 10.