Redding, California planting calendar and frost dates
Redding is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 8 and the first fall frost around December 28, giving about 322 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- February 8
- Typical first frost
- December 28
- Frost-free season
- 322 days
Frost dates in Redding
Last spring frost
- December 26Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 28Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 28Typical: 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 322 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Shasta Dam, 6 miles WNW of the city center and 365 feet higher. 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 Redding
January
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, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: celery, eggplants, ginger, peppers, tomatoes
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, petunias, potatoes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, ginger, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
September
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
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, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
December
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: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Redding
Redding's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from February 8 in 96003 to March 3 in 96002. The hardiness zone is 9a in 96002, and 9b in 96001, 96003.
Planting dates for popular crops in Redding
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Sep 14 to 21 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 28 to Jan 11 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 14 to 28 | Feb 1 to 15 | Sep 28 to Nov 2 |
| Cilantro | Dec 28 to Jan 11 | Feb 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 22 to 29 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 14 to 21 | Sep 7 to 14 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 28 to Jan 11 | Dec 28 to Jan 11 |
| Onions | Oct 19 to Nov 30 | Jan 11 to 25 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 4 to Mar 4 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Sep 7 to Oct 5 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 18 to Feb 8 | Oct 5 to 26 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 8 to 15 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Apr 22 to May 6 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 14 to 28 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 22 to May 6 | Oct 5 to 12 |
| Zucchini | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 22 to May 6 | Oct 5 to 19 |
| Broccoli | Nov 23 to Dec 14 | Jan 11 to 25 | Oct 12 to Nov 9 |
| Peas | — | Dec 28 to Jan 11 | Oct 5 to 19 |
| Spinach | Dec 28 to Jan 4 | Feb 1 to 15 | Oct 19 to Nov 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 14 to Mar 7 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 29 to May 6 | May 27 to Jun 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 16 to Jan 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 16 to Dec 28 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 28 to Jan 11 | Nov 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Chico, CA zone 9b, last frost Mar 4
- Yuba City, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 11
- Medford, OR zone 8b, last frost May 6
- Lincoln, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 11
- Woodland, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 7
- Rocklin, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Redding
Questions
When is the last frost in Redding?
Around February 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Shasta Dam. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 28.
What planting zone is Redding in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 9a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Redding?
Start seeds indoors February 25 to March 11 and set plants out April 22 to May 6.
When is the first frost in Redding?
Around December 28 in a typical year, and before December 1 about 1 year in 10.