Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Big Bear City, CA

The average first fall frost in Big Bear City, CA is October 4, and the average last spring frost is May 27, giving a growing season of about 131 days.

Plan your garden around Big Bear City, CA's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.

Last Spring Frost

May 27

Safe Jun 9 Typical May 27 Risky May 6

First Fall Frost

October 4

Safe Sep 21 Typical Oct 4 Risky Oct 20

Growing Season

131 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 7a

Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.

Data: NOAA station BIG BEAR LAKE, CA US, 6.9 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Big Bear City Compares

Big Bear City's typical last spring frost (May 27) comes later than in 94% of the 427 California cities we track.
Its 131-day growing season is 206 days shorter than the California median of 337 days.
Compared with Yucaipa (31 km away), Big Bear City's last spring frost comes 120 days later than Yucaipa's, and its first fall frost arrives 76 days earlier.
July is the warmest month (average high 80°F) and December the coldest (average low 24°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	Jun 3 – Jun 10	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Jun 3 – Jun 17	—	60–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost.
Eggplant	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Jun 10 – Jun 17	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Apr 29 – May 6	Jun 3 – Jun 10	Jun 3 – Jun 10	—	50–65 days	Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm.
Zucchini	May 6 – May 13	Jun 3 – Jun 17	Jun 3 – Jun 10	—	45–55 days	Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start.
Winter Squash	Apr 29 – May 6	Jun 3 – Jun 17	Jun 3 – Jun 10	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Jun 3 – Jun 17	—	—	90–120 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it.
Watermelon	Apr 29 – May 6	—	Jun 10 – Jun 17	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Apr 29 – May 6	—	Jun 10 – Jun 17	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	May 27 – Jun 10	—	—	60–100 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks.
Green Bean	—	May 27 – Jun 10	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Apr 15 – Apr 29	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	Aug 9 – Aug 23	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Apr 15 – Apr 29	—	Aug 9 – Aug 23	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	Jul 26 – Aug 9	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	Aug 23 – Aug 30	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	May 6 – May 20	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Apr 8 – Apr 22	—	May 6 – May 13	Aug 2 – Aug 9	55–80 days	Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost).
Cauliflower	Apr 8 – Apr 22	—	May 13 – May 20	Jul 26 – Aug 2	55–85 days	Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost.
Cabbage	Apr 8 – Apr 22	—	Apr 29 – May 13	Jul 26 – Aug 9	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Apr 8 – Apr 22	—	May 6 – May 20	—	90–110 days	Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost.
Carrot	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	Jul 12 – Jul 26	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	Jul 26 – Aug 9	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Apr 22 – May 6	—	Aug 23 – Sep 6	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	Jul 26 – Aug 9	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	90–120 days	Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings.
Garlic	—	—	—	Sep 6 – Sep 20	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	—	70–120 days	Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated.
Sweet Potato	—	—	Jun 10 – Jun 24	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Apr 29 – May 13	—	730–1095 days	Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Apr 15 – Apr 22	—	Jun 3 – Jun 10	—	50–70 days	Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm.
Cilantro	—	May 6 – May 20	—	Aug 9 – Aug 23	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	May 13 – May 20	—	70–90 days	Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant).
Dill	—	May 6 – May 20	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	May 27 – Jun 3	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Apr 1 – Apr 15	—	May 27 – Jun 3	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Jun 3 – Jun 17	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Apr 29 – May 6	Jun 3 – Jun 17	Jun 3 – Jun 10	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Apr 15 – Apr 29	—	Jun 3 – Jun 10	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Apr 29 – May 6	Jun 3 – Jun 17	Jun 3 – Jun 10	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Jun 3 – Jun 17	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Jun 3 – Jun 17	—	90–120 days	Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive.

Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the last frost in Big Bear City, CA?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the BIG BEAR LAKE, CA US station, the last spring frost in Big Bear City typically falls around May 27. A cautious gardener might wait until June 9 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while May 6 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Big Bear City, CA in fall?

The first fall frost in Big Bear City typically arrives around October 4. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as September 21; in milder years it can hold off until October 20.

How long is the growing season in Big Bear City, CA?

Big Bear City's average frost-free growing season is about 131 days, running from the typical last spring frost (May 27) to the typical first fall frost (October 4).

What USDA hardiness zone is Big Bear City, CA in?

Big Bear City, CA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 7a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Mild winters and a long growing season, room for both cool- and warm-season crops.