Visalia, California planting calendar and frost dates
Visalia is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 23 and the first fall frost around December 13, giving about 328 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 23
- Typical first frost
- December 13
- Frost-free season
- 328 days
Frost dates in Visalia
Last spring frost
- December 29Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 27Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 27Risky: 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 328 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 2 and returns around December 25.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Visalia, 0.5 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 Visalia
January
Start indoors: ginger, peppers, ranunculus
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
February
Start indoors: basil, celery, eggplants, peppers, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, garden mums, grapes, green onions, lavenders, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, rosemary, sage, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, thyme
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, 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, st. augustinegrass, 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
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, daylilies, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, 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: 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, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, 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, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, 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 Visalia
All 3 of Visalia's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Visalia, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Visalia
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 17 to Mar 3 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 30 to Sep 6 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 12 to 26 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 28 to Dec 12 | Jan 16 to 30 | Sep 13 to Oct 18 |
| Cilantro | Dec 12 to 26 | Jan 23 to 30 | — |
| Basil | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 14 to 21 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 7 to 14 | Aug 23 to 30 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 12 to 26 | Dec 13 to 27 |
| Onions | Oct 3 to Nov 14 | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Sep 13 to 27 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Peppers | Jan 27 to Feb 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | Aug 23 to Sep 20 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 2 to 23 | Sep 20 to Oct 11 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 4 to 11 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 10 to 24 | Apr 14 to 28 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 7 to 21 | Sep 6 to 20 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 14 to 28 | Sep 20 to 27 |
| Zucchini | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 14 to 28 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
| Broccoli | Nov 7 to 28 | Dec 26 to Jan 9 | Sep 27 to Oct 25 |
| Peas | — | Dec 12 to 26 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
| Spinach | Dec 12 to 19 | Jan 16 to 30 | Oct 4 to Nov 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 7 to 28 | — |
| Zinnias | Apr 27 to May 4 | May 25 to Jun 8 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 1 to Dec 27 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 1 to Dec 13 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 12 to 26 | Nov 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- Tulare, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 15
- Hanford, CA zone 9a, last frost Feb 7
- Porterville, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 20
- 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 Visalia
Questions
When is the last frost in Visalia?
Around January 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Visalia. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 27.
What planting zone is Visalia 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 Visalia?
Start seeds indoors February 17 to March 3 and set plants out April 14 to 28.
When is the first frost in Visalia?
Around December 13 in a typical year, and before November 27 about 1 year in 10.