Van Nuys Airport, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Dec 31
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 30
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
364 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 9 Dec 31 Jan 27
First fall frost Jan 25 Dec 30 Dec 9

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the VAN NUYS 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 Van Nuys Airport

Computed from Van Nuys 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 Nov 5 – Nov 19 Jan 7 – Jan 14
🫑 Peppers Oct 22 – Nov 5 Jan 14 – Jan 21
🥬 Lettuce Nov 19 – Dec 3 Dec 3 – Dec 17 Dec 3 – Dec 31
🫛 Peas Nov 19 – Dec 3
🥕 Carrots Dec 10 – Dec 31
🥦 Broccoli Nov 12 – Nov 26 Dec 10 – Dec 24
🥬 Kale Nov 19 – Dec 3 Dec 3 – Dec 17 Dec 3 – Dec 17
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 3 – Dec 10 Jan 7 – Jan 14 Jan 7 – Jan 14
🥒 Zucchini Dec 3 – Dec 10 Jan 7 – Jan 14 Jan 7 – Jan 14
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 7 – Jan 14
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 7 – Jan 14
🌿 Basil Nov 19 – Dec 3 Jan 7 – Jan 14 Jan 14 – Jan 21
🧄 Garlic Fall: Nov 18 – Dec 16

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 Van Nuys Airport's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Van Nuys Airport

With roughly 364 frost-free days, Van Nuys 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 30 is late enough that fall planting is a full second season, not an afterthought.

Frequently asked questions

When is the last frost in Van Nuys Airport, CA?

The average last spring frost in Van Nuys Airport is around Dec 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 Van Nuys Airport, CA?

The average first fall frost in Van Nuys Airport arrives around Dec 30. 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 Van Nuys Airport?

About 364 frost-free days on average, from Dec 31 to Dec 30. That comfortably fits long-season crops like melons and winter squash, plus spring and fall plantings of cool-season vegetables.

What USDA zone is Van Nuys 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.