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Frost dates and planting calendar for Davis, California

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

USDA hardiness zone
9b[1]
Median last spring frost
Feb 10[2]
Median first fall frost
Dec 1[3]
Growing season, median
295 days[4]

Davis, California sits in USDA hardiness zone 9b[1]. NOAA records show the median last spring frost is February 10[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frostmedian Feb 10First fall frost: 9 in 10 years before Dec 27, half of years Dec 1, 1 in 10 years before Nov 13First frostmedian Dec 1Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Jan 13 to Jan 27Jan 13 to Jan 27Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Jan 27 to Feb 10Jan 27 to Feb 10TenderTender vegetables: plant around Feb 10around Feb 10Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Feb 24from Feb 24
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.

These frost dates are odds from 1991 to 2020 records, not a forecast[5]. In half of years the last spring frost comes after February 10, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after March 11[2]. In half of years the first fall frost comes before December 1, and in 1 of 10 years it comes before November 13[3]. The numbers come from the NOAA Davis 2WSW Experiment Farm station near the center of Davis[5]. Any year can be earlier or later.

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after December 31 after February 10 after March 11
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 13 before December 1 before December 27
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date January 6, median first fall date December 18[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 256 days in 9 of 10 years, 295 days in half of years and 334 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 98.4% of years and 28°F or colder in 73.2% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Davis 2WSW Experiment Farm (USC00042294), 2.5 miles from the city center, 60 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its planting guide for Colorado, so these dates are a starting point for Davis[6]. Hardy vegetables such as broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost, which works out to January 13 to January 27[6]. Semi-hardy vegetables such as carrots, potatoes and beets can go in as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost, which is January 27[9]. Tender vegetables such as snap beans and cucumbers can start from seed around the median last frost, February 10[10]. Very tender vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers typically wait 2 or more weeks after it, so the earliest start is February 24[11].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (February 10) is January 13 to January 27[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (February 10) is January 27, up to the median date itself[9]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, February 10[10]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (February 10), is February 24[11]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Jan 13 Mar 19 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Jan 13 Apr 8 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Jan 13 Mar 4
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Jan 13 Mar 14
Onions (hardy)[12] Jan 13 May 3
Peas (hardy)[12] Jan 13 Mar 19
Radishes (hardy)[12] Jan 13 Feb 12
Spinach (hardy)[12] Jan 13 Feb 22
Turnips (hardy)[12] Jan 13 Mar 4
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 27 Mar 28
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 27 Apr 7
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 27 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 27 Apr 7
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 27 Jun 1
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 27 Mar 28
Snap beans (tender)[12] Feb 10 Apr 11
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Feb 10 Apr 11
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Feb 10 Apr 6
Summer squash (tender)[12] Feb 10 Apr 1
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Feb 24 May 20
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Feb 24 Apr 25 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Feb 24 May 5 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Feb 24 Apr 30 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Feb 24 Jun 4
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Feb 24 May 20
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

The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Davis in zone 9b, which means an average coldest night of 25°F to 30°F[1]. The zone is about the coldest winter night, not about frost dates or summer heat[14]. Davis overlaps 2 ZIP code areas, and by land area 100% lies in zone 9b[15].

Zone 9b: average annual extreme minimum temperature 25°F to 30°F (1991 to 2020)[1]. Modeled value at the city center: 26.5°F[1].

Share of the city's land area by ZIP code zone: zone 9b 100%[15].

All towns in zone 9b and what zone 9b means

Zone by ZIP code
ZIP code Zone Coldest night range
95616[15] 9b 25 to 30°F
95618[15] 9b 25 to 30°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Davis, California?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Davis in zone 9b[1].
When is the last frost in Davis?
The median last spring frost is February 10, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after March 11[2].
When to plant tomatoes in Davis?
CSU Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last frost, which gives an earliest start of February 24 in Davis[11]. CSU's guide was written for Colorado[11].
When is the first frost in Davis?
The median first fall frost is December 1, so in half of years it comes before that date[3]. In 1 of 10 years it comes before November 13[3].
How long is the growing season in Davis?
In half of years the season between the last spring and first fall frost is at least 295 days[4]. In 9 of 10 years it is at least 256 days[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Davis, California in zone 9b. Zone 9b means an average annual extreme minimum temperature of 25°F to 30°F over 1991 to 2020. The map's modeled value at the city center is 26.5°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 December 31, in half of years after February 10, and in 1 of 10 years after March 11 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is February 10. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  3. First fall frost (32°F) at this station: in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 13, in half of years before December 1, and in 9 of 10 years before December 27 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is December 1. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 256 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 295 days in half of years, and at least 334 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Davis 2WSW Experiment Farm weather station (USC00042294), 2.5 miles from the center of Davis at 60 feet, using 30 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 January 6 and the median first fall date is December 18. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 98.4% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 73.2% 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. Davis, California overlaps 2 ZIP code areas. By land area, 100% lies in ZIP code areas rated zone 9b. 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.