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Frost dates and planting calendar for Elk Grove, 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 2[2]
Median first fall frost
Dec 2[3]
Growing season, median
301 days[4]

Elk Grove, California sits in USDA hardiness zone 9b[1]. The median last spring frost is February 2, which means half of years see a last frost after that date[2].

Frost dates

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast spring frost: 9 in 10 years after Jan 2, half of years Feb 2, 1 in 10 years after Mar 5Last frostmedian Feb 2First frostmedian Dec 2Frost riskHardyHardy vegetables: plant Jan 5 to Jan 19Jan 5 to Jan 19Semi-hardySemi-hardy vegetables: plant Jan 19 to Feb 2Jan 19 to Feb 2TenderTender vegetables: plant around Feb 2around Feb 2Very tenderVery tender vegetables: plant from Feb 16from Feb 16
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 come from NOAA climate normals for the Sacramento Executive Airport station, using records from 1991 to 2020[5]. In 9 of 10 years the last spring frost comes after January 2, and in 1 of 10 years it comes after March 5[2]. The median first fall frost is December 2, and in 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 16[3]. These are chances, not promises, and any year can be earlier or later[2][3].

Frost Likely (9 in 10 years) Even odds (5 in 10) Unlikely (1 in 10)
Last spring frost (32°F)[2] after January 2 after February 2 after March 5
First fall frost (32°F)[3] before November 16 before December 2 before January 2
  • Hard freeze (28°F): median last spring date January 4, median first fall date December 16[7].
  • Frost-free growing season: at least 266 days in 9 of 10 years, 301 days in half of years and 338 days in 1 of 10 years[4].
  • The low reached 32°F or colder in 98.1% of years and 28°F or colder in 70.3% of years[8].
  • Weather station: Sacramento Executive Airport (USW00023232), 8.7 miles from the city center, 15 feet, 30 years of 1991 to 2020 records[5].

When to plant vegetables

Colorado State University Extension wrote its vegetable planting guide for Colorado[6]. We took the NOAA median last frost of February 2 as the average last frost[6]. Hardy vegetables like broccoli, lettuce, peas and spinach can go in as early as 2 to 4 weeks before it, which is January 5 to January 19[6]. Tender vegetables like snap beans, sweet corn and cucumbers can be seeded around February 2[9]. Very tender vegetables like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant typically wait 2 or more weeks after the median last frost, so the earliest start is February 16[10].

  • Hardy (broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce, onions, peas, radishes, spinach, turnips): as early as 2 to 4 weeks before the median last frost (February 2) is January 5 to January 19[6]
  • Semi-hardy (beets, carrots, cauliflower, parsnips, potatoes, Swiss chard): as early as 2 weeks before the median last frost (February 2) is January 19, up to the median date itself[11]
  • Tender (snap beans, sweet corn, cucumbers, summer squash): from seed around the median last frost date, February 2[9]
  • Very tender (cantaloupe, eggplant, peppers, tomatoes, winter squash, watermelon): the earliest start, two weeks after the median last frost (February 2), is February 16[10]
Vegetable (CSU group) Plant from First harvest around
Broccoli (hardy)[12] Jan 5 Mar 11 (from transplants)
Cabbage (hardy)[12] Jan 5 Mar 31 (from transplants)
Kohlrabi (hardy)[12] Jan 5 Feb 24
Lettuce (hardy)[12] Jan 5 Mar 6
Onions (hardy)[12] Jan 5 Apr 25
Peas (hardy)[12] Jan 5 Mar 11
Radishes (hardy)[12] Jan 5 Feb 4
Spinach (hardy)[12] Jan 5 Feb 14
Turnips (hardy)[12] Jan 5 Feb 24
Beets (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 19 Mar 20
Carrots (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 19 Mar 30
Cauliflower (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 19 not listed
Parsnips (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 19 Mar 30
Potatoes (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 19 May 24
Swiss chard (semi-hardy)[12] Jan 19 Mar 20
Snap beans (tender)[12] Feb 2 Apr 3
Sweet corn (tender)[12] Feb 2 Apr 3
Cucumbers (tender)[12] Feb 2 Mar 29
Summer squash (tender)[12] Feb 2 Mar 24
Cantaloupe (very tender)[12] Feb 16 May 12
Eggplant (very tender)[12] Feb 16 Apr 17 (from transplants)
Peppers (very tender)[12] Feb 16 Apr 27 (from transplants)
Tomatoes (very tender)[12] Feb 16 Apr 22 (from transplants)
Winter squash (very tender)[12] Feb 16 May 27
Watermelon (very tender)[12] Feb 16 May 12
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 9b means the coldest night of a typical winter falls between 25°F and 30°F, averaged over 1991 to 2020[1]. The zone is based on winter lows, not on summer heat or frost dates[14]. All of Elk Grove by land area lies in ZIP code areas rated 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: 26.3°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
95624[15] 9b 25 to 30°F
95757[15] 9b 25 to 30°F
95758[15] 9b 25 to 30°F
95829[15] 9b 25 to 30°F
95830[15] 9b 25 to 30°F
95823[15] 9b 25 to 30°F

Questions people ask

What growing zone is Elk Grove, California?
The 2023 USDA map puts the center of Elk Grove in zone 9b[1]. By land area, 100% of the city lies in ZIP code areas rated 9b[15].
When is the last frost in Elk Grove?
The median last spring frost is February 2, so in half of years the last frost comes after that date[2]. In 1 of 10 years it comes after March 5[2].
When is the first frost in Elk Grove?
The median first fall frost is December 2[3]. In 1 of 10 years the first frost comes before November 16[3].
When to plant tomatoes in Elk Grove?
CSU Extension says tomatoes typically go in 2 or more weeks after the average last spring frost, which makes February 16 the earliest start here[10]. CSU's guide was written for Colorado[10].
How long is the growing season in Elk Grove?
Between the last spring and first fall frost, the season is at least 301 days in half of years[4]. It is at least 266 days in 9 of 10 years[4].

Facts and sources

  1. The 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts the center of Elk Grove, 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 26.3°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 January 2, in half of years after February 2, and in 1 of 10 years after March 5 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median last frost date is February 2. 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 16, in half of years before December 2, and in 9 of 10 years before January 2 (NOAA 1991 to 2020 normals). The median first frost date is December 2. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  4. Growing season (days between the last spring and first fall 32°F frost) at this station: at least 266 days in 9 of 10 years, at least 301 days in half of years, and at least 338 days in 1 of 10 years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  5. Frost dates on this page come from NOAA climate normals for the Sacramento Executive Airport weather station (USW00023232), 8.7 miles from the center of Elk Grove at 15 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 4 and the median first fall date is December 16. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  8. At this station the low reached 32°F or colder in 98.1% of years from 1991 to 2020, and 28°F or colder in 70.3% of years. NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020
  9. 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
  10. 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
  11. 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
  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. Elk Grove, California overlaps 6 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.