Porterville, California planting calendar and frost dates
Porterville is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 20 and the first fall frost around December 13, giving about 330 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 20
- Typical first frost
- December 13
- Frost-free season
- 330 days
Frost dates in Porterville
Last spring frost
- December 25Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 20Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 22Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 26Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 13Typical: 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 330 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Porterville, 9.5 miles NW of the city center and 317 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 Porterville
January
Start indoors: eggplants, ginger, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, thyme
March
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, 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: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
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, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
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: black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, 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 Porterville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 30 to Sep 6 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 9 to 23 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Jan 13 to 27 | Sep 13 to Oct 18 |
| Cilantro | Dec 9 to 23 | Jan 20 to 27 | — |
| Basil | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 30 to Jan 6 | Aug 23 to 30 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 9 to 23 | Dec 13 to 27 |
| Onions | Sep 30 to Nov 11 | Dec 23 to Jan 6 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Sep 13 to 27 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 9 to Feb 6 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Aug 23 to Sep 20 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 30 to Jan 20 | Sep 20 to Oct 11 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 27 to May 4 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 20 to Mar 6 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Sep 6 to 20 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Sep 20 to 27 |
| Zucchini | Feb 27 to Mar 13 | Mar 27 to Apr 10 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
| Broccoli | Nov 4 to 25 | Dec 23 to Jan 6 | Sep 27 to Oct 25 |
| Peas | — | Dec 9 to 23 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
| Spinach | Dec 9 to 16 | Jan 13 to 27 | Oct 4 to Nov 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 22 to Feb 12 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 17 to 24 | May 15 to 29 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 1 to Dec 27 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 1 to Dec 13 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 9 to 23 | Nov 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- Tulare, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- Delano, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Visalia, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 23
- Hanford, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 7
- Bakersfield, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 17
- Clovis, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 14
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Porterville
Questions
When is the last frost in Porterville?
Around January 20 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Porterville. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 22.
What planting zone is Porterville 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 Porterville?
Start seeds indoors January 30 to February 13 and set plants out March 27 to April 10.
When is the first frost in Porterville?
Around December 13 in a typical year, and before November 26 about 1 year in 10.