Twitchell Dam, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

The two dates every Twitchell Dam 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 4
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
303 days
frost-free stretch
USDA zone
≈ 9b
estimated from nearby reference
Risky (1 year in 10)MedianSafe (9 years in 10)
Last spring frost Dec 27 Feb 4 Mar 31
First fall frost Dec 28 Dec 4 Nov 14
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Dec 31 · first Dec 17

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the TWITCHELL DAM 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 Twitchell Dam

Computed from Twitchell Dam'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 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: Oct 23 – Nov 20

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 Twitchell Dam's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Twitchell Dam

With roughly 303 frost-free days, Twitchell Dam 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 4 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Twitchell Dam, CA?

The average last spring frost in Twitchell Dam 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 Twitchell Dam, CA?

The average first fall frost in Twitchell Dam arrives around Dec 4. 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 Twitchell Dam?

About 303 frost-free days on average, from Feb 4 to Dec 4. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Twitchell Dam 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.