Salinas, California planting calendar and frost dates
Salinas is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 29 and the first fall frost around December 10, giving about 325 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 29
- Typical first frost
- December 10
- Frost-free season
- 325 days
Frost dates in Salinas
Last spring frost
- December 18Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 29Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 21Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 10Typical: 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 325 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Salinas Municipal Airport, 2.8 miles ESE 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 Salinas
January
Start indoors: cilantro, cosmos, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, ranunculus, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips, wildflowers, zinnias
February
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, dahlias, dill, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, thyme, zinnias
March
Start indoors: eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, ginger, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
May
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cucumbers, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
August
Plant for fall: potatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, 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, kale, kentucky bluegrass, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet peas, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Salinas
All 4 of Salinas's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Salinas Municipal Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Salinas
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 4 to 18 | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Sep 10 to Oct 15 |
| Cilantro | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | Jan 29 to Feb 5 | — |
| Basil | Apr 5 to 19 | May 24 to 31 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 8 to 15 | Aug 20 to 27 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | Dec 10 to 24 |
| Onions | Oct 9 to Nov 20 | Jan 1 to 15 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 8 to Apr 5 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Carrots | — | Jan 8 to 29 | Sep 17 to Oct 8 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Feb 12 to 19 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 19 to May 3 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | Sep 3 to 17 |
| Green Beans | — | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 26 to May 10 | May 24 to Jun 7 | — |
| Broccoli | Nov 13 to Dec 4 | Jan 1 to 15 | Sep 24 to Oct 22 |
| Peas | — | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
| Spinach | Dec 18 to 25 | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Oct 1 to Nov 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 29 to Feb 19 | — |
| Zinnias | Jan 1 to 8 | Jan 29 to Feb 12 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 29 to Dec 24 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 29 to Dec 10 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
Nearby cities
- Watsonville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 28
- Gilroy, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 24
- Santa Cruz, CA zone 9b, last frost Mar 25
- San Jose, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Cupertino, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Santa Clara, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Salinas
Questions
When is the last frost in Salinas?
Around January 29 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Salinas Municipal Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 1.
What planting zone is Salinas 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 Salinas?
Start seeds indoors March 29 to April 12 and set plants out May 24 to June 7.
When is the first frost in Salinas?
Around December 10 in a typical year, and before November 21 about 1 year in 10.