Tulare, California planting calendar and frost dates
Tulare is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 15 and the first fall frost around November 27, giving about 285 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 15
- Typical first frost
- November 27
- Frost-free season
- 285 days
Frost dates in Tulare
Last spring frost
- January 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 15Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 10Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 12Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 27Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 13Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 285 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 16 and returns around December 8.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Corcoran Irrig Dist, 12.6 miles WSW 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 Tulare
January
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, cabbages, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, 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
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, garden mums, ginger, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tall fescue, thyme
April
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, green onions, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, petunias, ranunculus
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
December
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: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Planting dates for popular crops in Tulare
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 14 to 21 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 4 to 18 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 21 to Jan 4 | Feb 8 to 22 | Aug 28 to Oct 2 |
| Cilantro | Jan 4 to 18 | Feb 15 to 22 | — |
| Basil | Feb 18 to Mar 4 | Apr 8 to 15 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 8 to 15 | Aug 7 to 14 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 4 to 18 | Nov 27 to Dec 11 |
| Onions | Oct 26 to Dec 7 | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 28 to Sep 11 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 21 to Feb 18 | Apr 8 to 22 | Aug 7 to Sep 4 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 25 to Feb 15 | Sep 4 to 25 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 29 to May 6 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 4 to 18 | Apr 8 to 22 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Aug 21 to Sep 4 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 8 to 22 | Sep 4 to 11 |
| Zucchini | Mar 11 to 25 | Apr 8 to 22 | Sep 4 to 18 |
| Broccoli | Nov 30 to Dec 21 | Jan 18 to Feb 1 | Sep 11 to Oct 9 |
| Peas | — | Jan 4 to 18 | Sep 4 to 18 |
| Spinach | Jan 4 to 11 | Feb 8 to 22 | Sep 18 to Oct 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 15 to Mar 8 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 21 to 28 | May 19 to Jun 2 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 16 to Dec 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 16 to Nov 27 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 4 to 18 | Oct 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Visalia, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 23
- Porterville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 20
- Hanford, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 7
- Delano, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Clovis, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 14
- Fresno, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 14
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Tulare
Questions
When is the last frost in Tulare?
Around February 15 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Corcoran Irrig Dist. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 10.
What planting zone is Tulare 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 Tulare?
Start seeds indoors February 11 to 25 and set plants out April 8 to 22.
When is the first frost in Tulare?
Around November 27 in a typical year, and before November 12 about 1 year in 10.