Santa Maria Public Airport, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Feb 4
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 13
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
312 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 29 Feb 4 Mar 16
First fall frost Jan 10 Dec 13 Nov 21
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 5 · first Dec 27

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the SANTA MARIA PUBLIC AP 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 Santa Maria Public Airport

Computed from Santa Maria Public Airport'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 Dec 10 – Dec 24 Feb 11 – Feb 18
🫑 Peppers Nov 26 – Dec 10 Feb 18 – Feb 25
🥬 Lettuce Dec 24 – Jan 7 Jan 7 – Jan 21 Jan 7 – Feb 4
🫛 Peas Dec 24 – Jan 7
🥕 Carrots Jan 14 – Feb 4
🥦 Broccoli Dec 17 – Dec 31 Jan 14 – Jan 28
🥬 Kale Dec 24 – Jan 7 Jan 7 – Jan 21 Jan 7 – Jan 21
🥒 Cucumbers Jan 7 – Jan 14 Feb 11 – Feb 18 Feb 11 – Feb 18
🥒 Zucchini Jan 7 – Jan 14 Feb 11 – Feb 18 Feb 11 – Feb 18
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Feb 11 – Feb 18
🌽 Sweet Corn Feb 11 – Feb 18
🌿 Basil Dec 24 – Jan 7 Feb 11 – Feb 18 Feb 18 – Feb 25
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 1 – Nov 29

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 Santa Maria Public Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Santa Maria Public Airport

With roughly 312 frost-free days, Santa Maria Public Airport 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 13 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Santa Maria Public Airport, CA?

The average last spring frost in Santa Maria Public Airport is around Feb 4, 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 Santa Maria Public Airport, CA?

The average first fall frost in Santa Maria Public Airport arrives around Dec 13. 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 Santa Maria Public Airport?

About 312 frost-free days on average, from Feb 4 to Dec 13. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Santa Maria Public Airport 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.