Santa Maria, California planting calendar and frost dates
Santa Maria is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 4 and the first fall frost around December 13, giving about 315 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 4
- Typical first frost
- December 13
- Frost-free season
- 315 days
Frost dates in Santa Maria
Last spring frost
- December 29Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 4Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 16Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 21Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 13Typical: 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 315 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 January 5 and returns around December 27.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Santa Maria Public Airport, 3.8 miles S 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 Santa Maria
January
Start indoors: cilantro, cosmos, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, ranunculus, 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, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
February
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, thyme, zinnias
March
Start indoors: eggplants, peppers
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, bermudagrass, centipedegrass, garden mums, ginger, green onions, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, watermelons
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: basil, 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, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, turnips
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, 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, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, kale, 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 Santa Maria
All 3 of Santa Maria's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Santa Maria Public 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 Santa Maria
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 4 to 18 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 10 to 24 | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Sep 13 to Oct 18 |
| Cilantro | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | Feb 4 to 11 | — |
| Basil | Apr 11 to 25 | May 30 to Jun 6 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 14 to 21 | Aug 23 to 30 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | Dec 13 to 27 |
| Onions | Oct 15 to Nov 26 | Jan 7 to 21 | — |
| Cucumbers | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Pumpkins | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 14 to Apr 11 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Carrots | — | Jan 14 to Feb 4 | Sep 20 to Oct 11 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Feb 18 to 25 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 25 to May 9 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 4 to 18 | Sep 6 to 20 |
| Green Beans | — | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Zucchini | May 2 to 16 | May 30 to Jun 13 | — |
| Broccoli | Nov 19 to Dec 10 | Jan 7 to 21 | Sep 27 to Oct 25 |
| Peas | — | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
| Spinach | Dec 24 to 31 | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Oct 4 to Nov 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 4 to 25 | — |
| Zinnias | Jan 7 to 14 | Feb 4 to 18 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 1 to Dec 27 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 1 to Dec 13 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 24 to Jan 7 | Nov 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- San Luis Obispo, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Santa Barbara, CA zone 10a
- San Buenaventura (Ventura), CA zone 10a
- Bakersfield, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 17
- Oxnard, CA zone 10b
- Delano, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Santa Maria
Questions
When is the last frost in Santa Maria?
Around February 4 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Santa Maria Public Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 16.
What planting zone is Santa Maria 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 Santa Maria?
Start seeds indoors April 4 to 18 and set plants out May 30 to June 13.
When is the first frost in Santa Maria?
Around December 13 in a typical year, and before November 21 about 1 year in 10.