Placerville, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Placerville garden is planned around, plus ready-computed planting windows for the most popular crops.

Last spring frost
Mar 31
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Nov 21
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
235 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Feb 24 Mar 31 Apr 23
First fall frost Dec 7 Nov 21 Nov 1
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Feb 15 · first Dec 5

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the PLACERVILLE station. "Safe" means frost past that date happens only about one year in ten. Your exact garden can still run days either way with elevation and terrain — check your own ZIP with the frost date lookup.

Planting windows for Placerville

Computed from Placerville's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-9 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Feb 3 – Feb 17 Apr 7 – Apr 14
🫑 Peppers Jan 20 – Feb 3 Apr 14 – Apr 21
🥬 Lettuce Feb 17 – Mar 3 Mar 3 – Mar 17 Mar 3 – Mar 31
🫛 Peas Feb 17 – Mar 3
🥕 Carrots Mar 10 – Mar 31
🥦 Broccoli Feb 10 – Feb 24 Mar 10 – Mar 24
🥬 Kale Feb 17 – Mar 3 Mar 3 – Mar 17 Mar 3 – Mar 17
🥒 Cucumbers Mar 3 – Mar 10 Apr 7 – Apr 14 Apr 7 – Apr 14
🥒 Zucchini Mar 3 – Mar 10 Apr 7 – Apr 14 Apr 7 – Apr 14
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Apr 7 – Apr 14
🌽 Sweet Corn Apr 7 – Apr 14
🌿 Basil Feb 17 – Mar 3 Apr 7 – Apr 14 Apr 14 – Apr 21
🧄 Garlic Fall: Oct 10 – Nov 7

Want this for all 50 crops, or as a printable seed-shelf schedule? Use the planting calendar and the seed starting scheduler — both can use Placerville's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Placerville

With roughly 235 frost-free days, Placerville gardens fit long-season crops — melons, winter squash, sweet potatoes — with room left for spring and fall rounds of greens and roots. The first frost around Nov 21 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Placerville, CA?

The average last spring frost in Placerville is around Mar 31, based on 1991–2020 climate normals. That's a median — about half of years see a later frost, so tender crops are safest going out a week or two after this date.

When is the first frost in Placerville, CA?

The average first fall frost in Placerville arrives around Nov 21. Crops still in the garden need to mature before then, and frost-tender plants need harvesting or protection as the date approaches.

How long is the growing season in Placerville?

About 235 frost-free days on average, from Mar 31 to Nov 21. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Placerville in?

USDA zone 9b on the 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Note that zones describe winter cold, not frost timing — these frost dates are the numbers to plan plantings around.