Santa Cruz, California planting calendar and frost dates
Santa Cruz is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around March 25 and the first fall frost around November 11, giving about 231 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- March 25
- Typical first frost
- November 11
- Frost-free season
- 231 days
Frost dates in Santa Cruz
Last spring frost
- February 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- March 25Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 21Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- October 18Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 11Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 4Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 231 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around February 6 and returns around December 4.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Ben Lomond #4, 6.5 miles N of the city center and 236 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 Santa Cruz
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
February
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, eggplants, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, perennial ryegrass, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
April
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
July
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant or sow outdoors: zinnias
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, snapdragons, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
September
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, zucchini
October
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
November
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Santa Cruz
Santa Cruz's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from January 29 in 95062 to March 25 in 95060. The hardiness zone is 10a in 95062, and 9b in 95060, 95064, 95065.
Planting dates for popular crops in Santa Cruz
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Jul 29 to Aug 5 |
| Strawberries | — | Feb 11 to 25 | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Aug 12 to Sep 16 |
| Cilantro | Feb 11 to 25 | Mar 25 to Apr 1 | — |
| Basil | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Mar 4 to 11 | — |
| Garlic | — | Feb 11 to 25 | Nov 11 to 25 |
| Onions | Dec 3 to Jan 14 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Aug 12 to 26 |
| Pumpkins | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 11 to Mar 11 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Jul 22 to Aug 19 |
| Carrots | — | Mar 4 to 25 | Aug 19 to Sep 9 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 31 to Jun 7 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | Apr 29 to May 13 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Mar 25 to Apr 8 | — |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 29 to May 13 | Aug 19 to 26 |
| Zucchini | Apr 1 to 15 | Apr 29 to May 13 | Aug 19 to Sep 2 |
| Broccoli | Jan 7 to 28 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Aug 26 to Sep 23 |
| Peas | — | Feb 11 to 25 | Aug 19 to Sep 2 |
| Spinach | Feb 11 to 18 | Mar 18 to Apr 1 | Sep 2 to Oct 7 |
| Sunflowers | — | Mar 25 to Apr 15 | — |
| Zinnias | Jun 29 to Jul 6 | Jul 27 to Aug 10 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Sep 30 to Nov 25 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Sep 30 to Nov 11 |
| Grass Seed | — | Feb 11 to 25 | Sep 30 to Oct 14 |
Nearby cities
- Watsonville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 28
- Cupertino, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Gilroy, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 24
- San Jose, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Santa Clara, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Sunnyvale, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 6
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Santa Cruz
Questions
When is the last frost in Santa Cruz?
Around March 25 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Ben Lomond #4. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 21.
What planting zone is Santa Cruz 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 Cruz?
Start seeds indoors March 4 to 18 and set plants out April 29 to May 13.
When is the first frost in Santa Cruz?
Around November 11 in a typical year, and before October 18 about 1 year in 10.