West Sacramento, California planting calendar and frost dates
West Sacramento is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 22 and the first fall frost around November 24, giving about 277 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 22
- Typical first frost
- November 24
- Frost-free season
- 277 days
Frost dates in West Sacramento
Last spring frost
- January 10Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 22Typical: a later frost in half of years
- April 1Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 9Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 21Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 277 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 17 and returns around December 10.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Sacramento Metro Airport, 4.7 miles N 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 West Sacramento
January
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: beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: celery, eggplants, ginger, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, 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, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
March
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, okra, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme
April
Start indoors: cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, ginger, green beans, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet peas, tall fescue, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
May
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
June
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, okra, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
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
November
Start indoors: collard greens, 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
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in West Sacramento
West Sacramento's 2 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from February 2 in 95605 to February 22 in 95691. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in West Sacramento
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Feb 24 to Mar 10 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 11 to 18 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 11 to 25 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 28 to Jan 11 | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Aug 25 to Sep 29 |
| Cilantro | Jan 11 to 25 | Feb 22 to Mar 1 | — |
| Basil | Mar 3 to 17 | Apr 21 to 28 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 13 to 20 | Aug 4 to 11 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 11 to 25 | Nov 24 to Dec 8 |
| Onions | Nov 2 to Dec 14 | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | — |
| Cucumbers | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Pumpkins | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 21 to May 5 | — |
| Peppers | Feb 3 to Mar 3 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Aug 4 to Sep 1 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 1 to 22 | Sep 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | May 11 to 18 | — |
| Watermelons | Mar 17 to 31 | Apr 21 to May 5 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 22 to Mar 8 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Green Beans | — | Apr 21 to May 5 | Sep 1 to 8 |
| Zucchini | Mar 24 to Apr 7 | Apr 21 to May 5 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Broccoli | Dec 7 to 28 | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Sep 8 to Oct 6 |
| Peas | — | Jan 11 to 25 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Jan 11 to 18 | Feb 15 to Mar 1 | Sep 15 to Oct 20 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 22 to Mar 15 | — |
| Zinnias | May 7 to 14 | Jun 4 to 18 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 13 to Dec 8 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 13 to Nov 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 11 to 25 | Oct 13 to 27 |
Nearby cities
- Sacramento, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Davis, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 10
- Elk Grove, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 2
- Woodland, CA zone 9b, last frost Feb 7
- Rancho Cordova, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Citrus Heights, CA zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
Planting in CaliforniaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for West Sacramento
Questions
When is the last frost in West Sacramento?
Around February 22 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Sacramento Metro Airport. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after April 1.
What planting zone is West Sacramento 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 West Sacramento?
Start seeds indoors February 24 to March 10 and set plants out April 21 to May 5.
When is the first frost in West Sacramento?
Around November 24 in a typical year, and before November 9 about 1 year in 10.