Santa Clara, California planting calendar and frost dates
Santa Clara is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 12 and the first fall frost around December 22, giving about 347 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- January 12
- Typical first frost
- December 22
- Frost-free season
- 347 days
Frost dates in Santa Clara
Last spring frost
- December 20Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 12Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 14Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 1Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 22Typical: 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 347 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for San Jose, 1.8 miles ENE of the city center. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers. Santa Clara shares this station with San Jose, so the two cities have the same frost dates and planting calendar.
What to plant each month in Santa Clara
January
Start indoors: ginger
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, zinnias
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: eggplants, peppers
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, st. augustinegrass
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
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
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
July
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zoysiagrass
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
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, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, 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, beets, broccoli, 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, turnips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, 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, 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, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Santa Clara
All 3 of Santa Clara's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from San Jose, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 10a in 95054, and 9b in 95050, 95051.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 95050 | 9b | San Jose, 1.8 mi ENE | Jan 12 | Dec 22 |
| 95051 | 9b | San Jose, 1.8 mi ENE | Jan 12 | Dec 22 |
| 95054 | 10a | San Jose, 1.8 mi ENE | Jan 12 | Dec 22 |
San Jose also supplies the frost dates for San Jose, Milpitas and Cupertino, so their planting calendars match Santa Clara's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Santa Clara
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Sep 8 to 15 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 1 to 15 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 17 to Dec 1 | Jan 5 to 19 | Sep 22 to Oct 27 |
| Cilantro | Dec 1 to 15 | Jan 12 to 19 | — |
| Basil | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 26 to May 3 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 22 to 29 | Sep 1 to 8 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 1 to 15 | Dec 22 to Jan 5 |
| Onions | Sep 22 to Nov 3 | Dec 15 to 29 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Sep 22 to Oct 6 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 8 to Mar 8 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Sep 1 to 29 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 22 to Jan 12 | Sep 29 to Oct 20 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 30 to Jun 6 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 22 to Apr 5 | Apr 26 to May 10 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Sep 15 to 29 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 26 to May 10 | Sep 29 to Oct 6 |
| Zucchini | Mar 29 to Apr 12 | Apr 26 to May 10 | Sep 29 to Oct 13 |
| Broccoli | Oct 27 to Nov 17 | Dec 15 to 29 | Oct 6 to Nov 3 |
| Peas | — | Dec 1 to 15 | Sep 29 to Oct 13 |
| Spinach | Dec 1 to 8 | Jan 5 to 19 | Oct 13 to Nov 17 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 12 to Feb 2 | — |
| Zinnias | Dec 15 to 22 | Jan 12 to 26 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 10 to Jan 5 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 10 to Dec 22 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 1 to 15 | Nov 10 to 24 |
Nearby cities
- Sunnyvale, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 6
- Cupertino, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Milpitas, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 12
- Mountain View, CA zone 10a, last frost Jan 6
- Fremont, CA zone 9b
- San Jose, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Santa Clara
Questions
When is the last frost in Santa Clara?
Around January 12 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for San Jose. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 14.
What planting zone is Santa Clara in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 10a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Santa Clara?
Start seeds indoors March 1 to 15 and set plants out April 26 to May 10.
When is the first frost in Santa Clara?
Around December 22 in a typical year, and before December 1 about 1 year in 10.