Tracy, California planting calendar and frost dates
Tracy is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 19 and the first fall frost around December 10, giving about 330 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 19
- Typical first frost
- December 10
- Frost-free season
- 330 days
Frost dates in Tracy
Last spring frost
- December 25Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 19Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 17Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 26Risky: 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 330 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 1 and returns around December 22.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Tracy Pumping Plt, 9.5 miles WNW 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 Tracy
January
Start indoors: ginger, peppers, 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
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, thyme
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: ginger, st. augustinegrass
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
October
Start indoors: collard greens, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
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
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: 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, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
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 Tracy
All 3 of Tracy's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Tracy Pumping Plt, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Tracy
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 27 to Sep 3 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 8 to 22 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 24 to Dec 8 | Jan 12 to 26 | Sep 10 to Oct 15 |
| Cilantro | Dec 8 to 22 | Jan 19 to 26 | — |
| Basil | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 7 to 14 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 29 to Jan 5 | Aug 20 to 27 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 8 to 22 | Dec 10 to 24 |
| Onions | Sep 29 to Nov 10 | Dec 22 to Jan 5 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Sep 10 to 24 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 20 to Feb 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | Aug 20 to Sep 17 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 29 to Jan 19 | Sep 17 to Oct 8 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 2 to 9 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 7 to 21 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Sep 3 to 17 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 7 to 21 | Sep 17 to 24 |
| Zucchini | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 7 to 21 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
| Broccoli | Nov 3 to 24 | Dec 22 to Jan 5 | Sep 24 to Oct 22 |
| Peas | — | Dec 8 to 22 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
| Spinach | Dec 8 to 15 | Jan 12 to 26 | Oct 1 to Nov 5 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 30 to Feb 20 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 30 to May 7 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 29 to Dec 24 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 29 to Dec 10 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 8 to 22 | Oct 29 to Nov 12 |
Nearby cities
- Manteca, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Livermore, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- Stockton, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Brentwood, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Pleasanton, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- Dublin, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Tracy
Questions
When is the last frost in Tracy?
Around January 19 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Tracy Pumping Plt. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 17.
What planting zone is Tracy 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 Tracy?
Start seeds indoors February 10 to 24 and set plants out April 7 to 21.
When is the first frost in Tracy?
Around December 10 in a typical year, and before November 26 about 1 year in 10.