Last Frost Date

Planting planner: Santa Rosa, California

Typical last spring frost March 2 (1 spring in 10 later than April 2). Typical first fall frost November 20 (1 fall in 10 earlier than November 1). Growing season about 262 days.

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Frost likely Frost possible Frost unlikely Frost is likely until January 27 and fades out by April 2. It is unlikely from then until November 1, and likely again after December 10. The dashed lines are the typical dates, March 2 and November 20.

We don't give a garlic date here. The rule we use, from the University of Minnesota Extension, counts from the first killing frost, and it works where a hard freeze comes every year before the ground freezes. Your county's extension office can tell you when to plant garlic in your climate.

January

  • January 12 to February 2: Eggplant (start seeds indoors)
  • January 19 to February 2: Peppers (start seeds indoors)
  • January 26 to February 9: Tomatoes (start seeds indoors)

February

  • February 2 to 16: Peas, spinach, lettuce, radishes, onion sets, turnips (sow outdoors)
  • February 2 to 16: Broccoli and cabbage (plant out)
  • February 16 to March 2: Beets, carrots, potatoes, Swiss chard (plant outdoors)
  • February 16 to March 2: Cauliflower (plant out)

March

  • March 2: Snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash (sow outdoors)
  • March 16: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant (plant out)
  • March 16: Melons, winter squash, pumpkins, lima beans (sow outdoors)

April

Nothing to start this month.

May

Nothing to start this month.

June

  • June 25 to July 9: Cabbage for fall (start seeds)

July

  • July 15 to 29: Broccoli for fall (start seeds)

August

  • August 24: Snap beans for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 28: Carrots for fall (last date to sow)
  • August 29: Cucumbers for fall (last date to sow)

September

  • September 2: Peas for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 3: Summer squash for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 7: Leaf lettuce and beets for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 17: Turnips and kohlrabi for fall (last date to sow)
  • September 27: Spinach for fall (last date to sow)

October

  • October 7: Radishes for fall (last date to sow)

November

  • November 1: Tomatoes, peppers, squash, melons, cucumbers (watch the forecast)

December

  • December 15 to January 12: Broccoli and cabbage (start seeds indoors)
  • December 29 to January 26: Cauliflower (start seeds indoors)

Dates from NOAA's 1991 to 2020 climate normals for Santa Rosa Sonoma Co Airport (station USW00023213), 7 miles from the center of Santa Rosa. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension GardenNotes #720 (spring), Virginia Cooperative Extension 426-334 (fall crops), University of Minnesota Extension (garlic). Spring bulbs: plant when the soil has cooled to about 50 to 55°F, until a couple of weeks before the ground freezes (University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension). Full details: https://lastfrostdate.com/frost-dates/california/santa-rosa/

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