Turlock, California planting calendar and frost dates
Turlock is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 6 and the first fall frost around December 20, giving about 351 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 6
- Typical first frost
- December 20
- Frost-free season
- 351 days
Frost dates in Turlock
Last spring frost
- December 14Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 6Typical: a later frost in half of years
- January 31Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 3Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 20Typical: 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 351 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Turlock #2, 2.5 miles NE 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 Turlock
January
Start indoors: ginger, peppers
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, ginger, green onions, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn
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, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, 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, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, potatoes, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
October
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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, cilantro, collard greens, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, 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, kentucky bluegrass, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet peas, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
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: cilantro, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard
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, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Turlock
All 2 of Turlock's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Turlock #2, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Turlock
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | Sep 6 to 13 |
| Strawberries | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 11 to 25 | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Sep 20 to Oct 25 |
| Cilantro | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Jan 6 to 13 | — |
| Basil | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Apr 5 to 12 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 16 to 23 | Aug 30 to Sep 6 |
| Garlic | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Dec 20 to Jan 3 |
| Onions | Sep 16 to Oct 28 | Dec 9 to 23 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 18 to Feb 15 | Apr 5 to 19 | Aug 30 to Sep 27 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 16 to Jan 6 | Sep 27 to Oct 18 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 30 to May 7 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 1 to 15 | Apr 5 to 19 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Sep 13 to 27 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 5 to 19 | Sep 27 to Oct 4 |
| Zucchini | Mar 8 to 22 | Apr 5 to 19 | Sep 27 to Oct 11 |
| Broccoli | Oct 21 to Nov 11 | Dec 9 to 23 | Oct 4 to Nov 1 |
| Peas | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Sep 27 to Oct 11 |
| Spinach | Nov 25 to Dec 2 | Dec 30 to Jan 13 | Oct 11 to Nov 15 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 24 to May 1 | May 22 to Jun 5 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 8 to Jan 3 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 8 to Dec 20 |
| Grass Seed | — | Nov 25 to Dec 9 | Nov 8 to 22 |
Nearby cities
- Modesto, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Merced, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 26
- Manteca, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Tracy, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 19
- Stockton, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Lodi, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 9
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Turlock
Questions
When is the last frost in Turlock?
Around January 6 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Turlock #2. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after January 31.
What planting zone is Turlock 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 Turlock?
Start seeds indoors February 8 to 22 and set plants out April 5 to 19.
When is the first frost in Turlock?
Around December 20 in a typical year, and before December 3 about 1 year in 10.