Visalia, CA Frost Dates & Growing Season

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

Last spring frost
Jan 23
~50% chance of frost after
First fall frost
Dec 13
~50% chance of frost before
Growing season
324 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 Jan 23 Feb 27
First fall frost Jan 8 Dec 13 Nov 27
Hard freeze (28°F), median last Jan 2 · first Dec 25

Computed from NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals at the VISALIA 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 Visalia

Computed from Visalia'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 28 – Dec 12 Jan 30 – Feb 6
🫑 Peppers Nov 14 – Nov 28 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🥬 Lettuce Dec 12 – Dec 26 Dec 26 – Jan 9 Dec 26 – Jan 23
🫛 Peas Dec 12 – Dec 26
🥕 Carrots Jan 2 – Jan 23
🥦 Broccoli Dec 5 – Dec 19 Jan 2 – Jan 16
🥬 Kale Dec 12 – Dec 26 Dec 26 – Jan 9 Dec 26 – Jan 9
🥒 Cucumbers Dec 26 – Jan 2 Jan 30 – Feb 6 Jan 30 – Feb 6
🥒 Zucchini Dec 26 – Jan 2 Jan 30 – Feb 6 Jan 30 – Feb 6
🫘 Green Beans (Bush) Jan 30 – Feb 6
🌽 Sweet Corn Jan 30 – Feb 6
🌿 Basil Dec 12 – Dec 26 Jan 30 – Feb 6 Feb 6 – Feb 13
🧄 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 Visalia's dates automatically after a lookup.

Reading the season in Visalia

With roughly 324 frost-free days, Visalia 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 Visalia, CA?

The average last spring frost in Visalia is around Jan 23, 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 Visalia, CA?

The average first fall frost in Visalia 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 Visalia?

About 324 frost-free days on average, from Jan 23 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 Visalia 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.