Sacramento, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Jan 12
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 16
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
338 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
9b
2023 hardiness map
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 18 Jan 12 Feb 8
First fall frost Jan 14 Dec 16 Nov 28
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Dec 31 · first Dec 25

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the Sacramento 5 ESE station (7 km from central Sacramento). "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 Sacramento

Computed from Sacramento'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 Nov 17 – Dec 1 Jan 19 – Jan 26
🫑 Peppers Nov 3 – Nov 17 Jan 26 – Feb 2
🥬 Lettuce Dec 1 – Dec 15 Dec 15 – Dec 29 Dec 15 – Jan 12
🫛 Peas Dec 1 – Dec 15
🥕 Carrots Dec 22 – Jan 12
🥦 Broccoli Nov 24 – Dec 8 Dec 22 – Jan 5
🥬 Kale Dec 1 – Dec 15 Dec 15 – Dec 29 Dec 15 – Dec 29
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 15 – Dec 22 Jan 19 – Jan 26 Jan 19 – Jan 26
🥒 Zucchini Dec 15 – Dec 22 Jan 19 – Jan 26 Jan 19 – Jan 26
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 19 – Jan 26
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 19 – Jan 26
🌿 Basil Dec 1 – Dec 15 Jan 19 – Jan 26 Jan 26 – Feb 2
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 4 – Dec 2

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 Sacramento's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Sacramento

With roughly 338 frost-free days, Sacramento 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 Dec 16 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Sacramento, CA?

The average last spring frost in Sacramento is around Jan 12, 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 Sacramento, CA?

The average first fall frost in Sacramento arrives around Dec 16. 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 Sacramento?

About 338 frost-free days on average, from Jan 12 to Dec 16. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Sacramento 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.