Watsonville, California planting calendar and frost dates
Watsonville is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 28 and the first fall frost around December 13, giving about 324 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- January 28
- Typical first frost
- December 13
- Frost-free season
- 324 days
Frost dates in Watsonville
Last spring frost
- December 23Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 28Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 3Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 25Risky: 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 324 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 26.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Watsonville Wtr Wks, 1.3 miles SW 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 Watsonville
January
Start indoors: ginger, ranunculus, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, cosmos, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, zinnias
February
Start indoors: ginger
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, celery, chives, cilantro, cosmos, dahlias, dill, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, thyme, zinnias
March
Start indoors: eggplants, peppers
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, ginger, st. augustinegrass, zoysiagrass
April
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, ginger, 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, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, zinnias
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 Watsonville
Watsonville's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from January 28 in 95076 to January 31 in 95019. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Watsonville
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Apr 2 to 16 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 17 to 31 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 3 to 17 | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Sep 13 to Oct 18 |
| Cilantro | Dec 17 to 31 | Jan 28 to Feb 4 | — |
| Basil | Apr 9 to 23 | May 28 to Jun 4 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 7 to 14 | Aug 23 to 30 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 17 to 31 | Dec 13 to 27 |
| Onions | Oct 8 to Nov 19 | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | — |
| Cucumbers | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Pumpkins | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Peppers | Mar 12 to Apr 9 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Carrots | — | Jan 7 to 28 | Sep 20 to Oct 11 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Feb 11 to 18 | — |
| Watermelons | Apr 23 to May 7 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Sep 6 to 20 |
| Green Beans | — | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Zucchini | Apr 30 to May 14 | May 28 to Jun 11 | — |
| Broccoli | Nov 12 to Dec 3 | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Sep 27 to Oct 25 |
| Peas | — | Dec 17 to 31 | Sep 20 to Oct 4 |
| Spinach | Dec 17 to 24 | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Oct 4 to Nov 8 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 28 to Feb 18 | — |
| Zinnias | Dec 31 to Jan 7 | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 1 to Dec 27 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 1 to Dec 13 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 17 to 31 | Nov 1 to 15 |
Nearby cities
- Gilroy, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 24
- Santa Cruz, CA zone 9b, last frost Mar 25
- Salinas, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 29
- San Jose, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Cupertino, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Santa Clara, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Watsonville
Questions
When is the last frost in Watsonville?
Around January 28 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Watsonville Wtr Wks. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 3.
What planting zone is Watsonville 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 Watsonville?
Start seeds indoors April 2 to 16 and set plants out May 28 to June 11.
When is the first frost in Watsonville?
Around December 13 in a typical year, and before November 25 about 1 year in 10.