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Frost dates and planting calendar for Apple Valley, California

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on USDA, NOAA and Colorado State University Extension data. Published by Humblebee.

USDA hardiness zone
8b[1]
Median last spring frost
Mar 18[2]
Median first fall frost
Nov 11[3]
Growing season, median
233 days[4]

Apple Valley, California sits in USDA hardiness zone 8b at the city center[1]. The median last spring frost is March 18, based on NOAA records from 1991 to 2020[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Feb 23, half of years Mar 18, 1 in 10 years after Apr 12Last frostmedian Mar 18First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Nov 26, half of years Nov 11, 1 in 10 years before Oct 27First frostmedian Nov 11Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Feb 18 to Mar 4Feb 18 to Mar 4Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Mar 4 to Mar 18Mar 4 to Mar 18TenderTender vegetables: plant around Mar 18around Mar 18Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Apr 1from Apr 1
Shaded: the span between the dates frost passes in 9 of 10 years and 1 of 10 years[2][3]. Green: planting windows from the CSU rules applied to the median last frost (GardenFacts calculation)[6]. Exact dates are in the tables below.

The frost dates come from NOAA climate normals for the Victorville weather station near Apple Valley[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after March 18, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after April 12[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before November 11, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before October 27[3]. These are chances from past records and not promises, so any year can be earlier or later[5].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after February 23 after March 18 after April 12
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before October 27 before November 11 before November 26
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date February 22, median first fall date November 24[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 203 days in 9 of 10 years, 233 days in half of years and 262 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years and 28°F or colder in 100% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Victorville (USC00049325), 4.7 miles from the city center, 2,880 feet, 25 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado, so treat these dates as a starting point[6]. GardenFacts takes the NOAA median last frost of March 18 as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce and peas can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before that date, which is February 18 to March 4[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots and potatoes can go in as early as 2 weeks before, which is March 4[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and sweet corn can be planted from seed around March 18[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically start 2 or more weeks after the last frost, and the earliest start is April 1[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (March 18) is February 18 to March 4[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (March 18) is March 4, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, March 18[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (March 18), is April 1[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Feb 18 Apr 24 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Feb 18 May 14 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Feb 18 Apr 9
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Feb 18 Apr 19
Onions (hardy)[12] Feb 18 Jun 8
Peas (hardy)[12] Feb 18 Apr 24
Radishes (hardy)[12] Feb 18 Mar 20
Spinach (hardy)[12] Feb 18 Mar 30
Turnips (hardy)[12] Feb 18 Apr 9
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 4 May 3
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 4 May 13
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 4 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 4 May 13
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 4 Jul 7
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Mar 4 May 3
Snap beans (tender)[12] Mar 18 May 17
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Mar 18 May 17
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Mar 18 May 12
Summer squash (tender)[12] Mar 18 May 7
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Apr 1 Jun 25
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Apr 1 May 31 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Apr 1 Jun 10 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Apr 1 Jun 5 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Apr 1 Jul 10
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Apr 1 Jun 25
Spacing, depth and soil temperature (CSU Extension)
Vegetable Min. soil temp Depth Spacing Days to harvest
Broccoli[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 65
Cabbage[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in 85
Kohlrabi[13] 40°F 1/2 in 7-9 in 50
Lettuce[13] 35°F 1/4 in 7-9 in 60
Onions[13] 35°F 1/4 in (seed), 1-2 in (sets) 4-6 in 110
Peas[13] 40°F 1 in 4-6 in 65
Radishes[13] 40°F 1/2 in 2-3 in 30
Spinach[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 40
Turnips[13] 40°F 1/2 in 4-6 in 50
Beets[13] 40°F 3/4-1 in 4-6 in 60
Carrots[13] 40°F 1/4 in 2-3 in 70
Cauliflower[13] 40°F 1/2 in 18 in –
Parsnips[13] 35°F 1/2 in 5-6 in 70
Potatoes[13] 45°F – – 125
Swiss chard[13] 40°F 1 in 7-9 in 60
Snap beans[13] 55°F 1-1 1/2 in 6 in 60
Sweet corn[13] 50°F 1-1 1/2 in 12 x 30 in or 9 x 36 in 60-90
Cucumbers[13] 60°F 1 in 6 in trellised, 24-36 in untrellised 55
Summer squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 50
Cantaloupe[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85
Eggplant[13] 60°F 1/4 in 18-24 in 60
Peppers[13] 60°F 1/4 in 15-18 in 70
Tomatoes[13] 50°F 1/4 in 24 in trellised 65
Winter squash[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 100
Watermelon[13] 60°F 1-1 1/2 in 36-48 in 85

Hardiness zone

Zone 8b means the average coldest night of the winter was 15°F to 20°F over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone does not tell you about summer heat or frost dates[14]. All of Apple Valley's land area lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b, across 2 ZIP code areas[15].

Zone 8b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 15°F to 20°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 18.2°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 8b 100%[15].

All towns in zone 8b and what zone 8b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
92307[15] 8b 15 to 20°F
92308[15] 8b 15 to 20°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Apple Valley, California?
The center of Apple Valley is in USDA zone 8b on the 2023 map[1]. By land area, 100% of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated 8b[15].
When is the last frost in Apple Valley?
The median last spring frost is March 18, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after April 12[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Apple Valley?
CSU Extension says tomatoes are very tender and typically start 2 or more weeks after the average last frost[11]. Using the median last frost, the earliest start is April 1[11].
When is the first frost in Apple Valley?
The median first fall frost is November 11, so in half of years it comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before October 27[3].
How long is the growing season in Apple Valley?
The season between the last spring and first fall frost lasts at least 233 days in half of years[4]. It lasts at least 203 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Apple Valley, California in zone 8b. Zone 8b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 15°F to 20°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 18.2°F. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)
  2. Last spring frost (32°F) at this station: in 9 of 10 years the last frost comes after February 23, in half of years after March 18, and in 1 of 10 years after April 12 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is March 18. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before October 27, in half of years before November 11, and in 9 of 10 years before November 26 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is November 11. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 203 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 233 days in half of years, and at least 262 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Victorville weather station (USC00049325), 4.7 miles from the center of Apple Valley at 2,880 feet, using 25 years of records from 1991 to 2020. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  6. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips as hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 2-4 weeks before the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  7. Hard freeze (28°F) at this station: the median last spring date is February 22 and the median first fall date is November 24. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 100% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 100% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard as semi-hardy vegetables, with this rule: as early as 0-2 weeks before the average last spring frost.... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  10. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash as tender vegetables, with this rule: from seed around the average last spring frost; cucumber and summer squash... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  11. Colorado State University Extension's vegetable planting guide (written for Colorado) groups cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon as very tender vegetables, with this rule: typically 2 or more weeks after the average last... CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  12. GardenFacts calculation: earliest planting date plus CSU days to harvest (table on this page), from the station's median last frost. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  13. CSU Extension vegetable table: soil temperature, depth, spacing, days to harvest (table on this page). CSU Extension GardenNotes #720
  14. USDA hardiness zones are based on the average annual extreme minimum winter temperature (the coldest night of each winter, averaged over 1991 to 2020 for the 2023 map), not on summer heat or frost dates. Each zone spans 10°F and each half zone (a or b)... USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
  15. Apple Valley, California overlaps 2 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 8b. USDA zone map 2023 (PRISM, OSU)

Frost dates are probabilities from 1991 to 2020 weather records at one NOAA station, not a forecast. Any year can be earlier or later. The hardiness zone describes the average coldest winter night, not frost dates or summer heat. Spots inside the city can differ (ZIP table). Planting rules come from Colorado State University Extension's guide, written for Colorado. A local extension office may give dates tuned to the area. Planting and harvest dates marked GardenFacts calculation are simple arithmetic from the facts above, not advice from the source.

Hardiness zone data: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023), USDA Agricultural Research Service and PRISM Group, Oregon State University, prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed October 30, 2026. This is not the official USDA map. Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020. Planting rules: Colorado State University Extension.