San Luis Obispo Poly, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Jan 16
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 25
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
343 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 10b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 11 Jan 16 Feb 26
First fall frost Feb 12 Dec 25 Nov 25
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 9 · first Jan 6

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the SAN LUIS OBISPO POLY 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 San Luis Obispo Poly

Computed from San Luis Obispo Poly's own frost dates. Click any crop for the full zone-10 growing guide — varieties, spacing, fall plantings, and more.

CropStart seeds indoorsTransplantDirect sow
🍅 Tomatoes Nov 21 – Dec 5 Jan 23 – Jan 30
🫑 Peppers Nov 7 – Nov 21 Jan 30 – Feb 6
🥬 Lettuce Dec 5 – Dec 19 Dec 19 – Jan 2 Dec 19 – Jan 16
🫛 Peas Dec 5 – Dec 19
🥕 Carrots Dec 26 – Jan 16
🥦 Broccoli Nov 28 – Dec 12 Dec 26 – Jan 9
🥬 Kale Dec 5 – Dec 19 Dec 19 – Jan 2 Dec 19 – Jan 2
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 19 – Dec 26 Jan 23 – Jan 30 Jan 23 – Jan 30
🥒 Zucchini Dec 19 – Dec 26 Jan 23 – Jan 30 Jan 23 – Jan 30
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 23 – Jan 30
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 23 – Jan 30
🌿 Basil Dec 5 – Dec 19 Jan 23 – Jan 30 Jan 30 – Feb 6
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 13 – Dec 11

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 San Luis Obispo Poly's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in San Luis Obispo Poly

With roughly 343 frost-free days, San Luis Obispo Poly 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 25 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in San Luis Obispo Poly, CA?

The average last spring frost in San Luis Obispo Poly is around Jan 16, 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 San Luis Obispo Poly, CA?

The average first fall frost in San Luis Obispo Poly arrives around Dec 25. 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 San Luis Obispo Poly?

About 343 frost-free days on average, from Jan 16 to Dec 25. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is San Luis Obispo Poly in?

USDA zone 10b 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.