San Rafael, California planting calendar and frost dates
San Rafael is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 16 and the first fall frost around December 18, giving about 334 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- January 16
- Typical first frost
- December 18
- Frost-free season
- 334 days
Frost dates in San Rafael
Last spring frost
- December 21Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 16Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 25Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 30Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 18Typical: 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 334 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kentfield, 2.9 miles SW 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 San Rafael
January
Start indoors: ginger, ranunculus
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, zinnias
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: peppers
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn
March
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, st. augustinegrass
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger
May
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: potatoes
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, lettuce, peas, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard
October
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, 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
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, chives, cilantro, collard greens, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, zinnias
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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in San Rafael
San Rafael's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from January 11 in 94903 to January 16 in 94901. The hardiness zone is 10a in 94901, and 9b in 94903.
Planting dates for popular crops in San Rafael
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 11 to 25 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 5 to 19 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 21 to Dec 5 | Jan 9 to 23 | Sep 18 to Oct 23 |
| Cilantro | Dec 5 to 19 | Jan 16 to 23 | — |
| Basil | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | May 6 to 13 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 26 to Jan 2 | Aug 28 to Sep 4 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 5 to 19 | Dec 18 to Jan 1 |
| Onions | Sep 26 to Nov 7 | Dec 19 to Jan 2 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 18 to Mar 18 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Carrots | — | Dec 26 to Jan 16 | Sep 25 to Oct 16 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Jun 9 to 16 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 1 to 15 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Sep 11 to 25 |
| Green Beans | — | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 8 to 22 | May 6 to 20 | — |
| Broccoli | Oct 31 to Nov 21 | Dec 19 to Jan 2 | Oct 2 to 30 |
| Peas | — | Dec 5 to 19 | Sep 25 to Oct 9 |
| Spinach | Dec 5 to 12 | Jan 9 to 23 | Oct 9 to Nov 13 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 26 to Feb 16 | — |
| Zinnias | Dec 19 to 26 | Jan 16 to 30 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 6 to Jan 1 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 6 to Dec 18 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 5 to 19 | Nov 6 to 20 |
Nearby cities
- Novato, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 28
- Richmond, CA zone 10a
- Berkeley, CA zone 10a
- Vallejo, CA zone 9b, last frost Mar 5
- Petaluma, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 28
- Daly City, CA zone 10a
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 10aPrintable calendar for San Rafael
Questions
When is the last frost in San Rafael?
Around January 16 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Kentfield. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 25.
What planting zone is San Rafael in?
USDA hardiness zone 10a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 9b. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in San Rafael?
Start seeds indoors March 11 to 25 and set plants out May 6 to 20.
When is the first frost in San Rafael?
Around December 18 in a typical year, and before November 30 about 1 year in 10.