Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Chico, CA

The average first fall frost in Chico, CA is November 17, and the average last spring frost is March 4, giving a growing season of about 257 days.

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

Last Spring Frost

March 4

Safe Apr 2 Typical Mar 4 Risky Feb 8

First Fall Frost

November 17

Safe Nov 1 Typical Nov 17 Risky Dec 5

Growing Season

257 days

Typical last frost to typical first frost.

USDA Hardiness Zone

Zone 9b

Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.

Data: NOAA station CHICO UNIV FARM, CA US, 4.4 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Chico Compares

Chico's typical last spring frost (Mar 4) comes later than in 86% of the 427 California cities we track.
Its 257-day growing season is 80 days shorter than the California median of 337 days.
July is the warmest month (average high 95°F) and January the coldest (average low 36°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Jan 7 – Jan 21	—	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	60–85 days	Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Pepper	Dec 24 – Jan 7	—	Mar 11 – Mar 25	—	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	Dec 24 – Jan 7	—	Mar 18 – Mar 25	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Feb 4 – Feb 11	Mar 11 – Mar 18	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	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	Feb 11 – Feb 18	Mar 11 – Mar 25	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	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	Feb 4 – Feb 11	Mar 11 – Mar 25	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	80–110 days	Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates.
Pumpkin	—	Mar 11 – Mar 25	—	—	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	Feb 4 – Feb 11	—	Mar 18 – Mar 25	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Feb 4 – Feb 11	—	Mar 18 – Mar 25	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	—	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	—	Mar 4 – Mar 18	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Jan 21 – Feb 4	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Sep 22 – Oct 6	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Jan 21 – Feb 4	—	Sep 22 – Oct 6	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Sep 8 – Sep 22	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Oct 6 – Oct 13	30–40 days	Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks.
Swiss Chard	—	Feb 11 – Feb 25	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Jan 14 – Jan 28	—	Feb 11 – Feb 18	Sep 15 – Sep 22	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	Jan 14 – Jan 28	—	Feb 18 – Feb 25	Sep 8 – Sep 15	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	Jan 14 – Jan 28	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	Sep 8 – Sep 22	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Jan 14 – Jan 28	—	Feb 11 – Feb 25	—	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	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Aug 25 – Sep 8	60–80 days	Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Beet	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Sep 8 – Sep 22	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Jan 28 – Feb 11	—	Oct 6 – Oct 20	22–30 days	Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked.
Turnip	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	Sep 8 – Sep 22	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Dec 24 – Jan 7	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	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	—	—	—	Oct 20 – Nov 3	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	—	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	—	—	Mar 18 – Apr 1	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Feb 4 – Feb 18	—	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	Jan 21 – Jan 28	—	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	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	—	Feb 11 – Feb 25	—	Sep 22 – Oct 6	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Jan 7 – Jan 21	—	Feb 18 – Feb 25	—	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	—	Feb 11 – Feb 25	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Jan 7 – Jan 21	—	Mar 4 – Mar 11	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Jan 7 – Jan 21	—	Mar 4 – Mar 11	—	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	—	Mar 11 – Mar 25	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Feb 4 – Feb 11	Mar 11 – Mar 25	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	60–70 days	Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms.
Marigold	Jan 21 – Feb 4	—	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Feb 4 – Feb 11	Mar 11 – Mar 25	Mar 11 – Mar 18	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Mar 11 – Mar 25	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Mar 11 – Mar 25	—	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 Chico, CA?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the CHICO UNIV FARM, CA US station, the last spring frost in Chico typically falls around March 4. A cautious gardener might wait until April 2 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while February 8 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Chico, CA in fall?

The first fall frost in Chico typically arrives around November 17. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 1; in milder years it can hold off until December 5.

How long is the growing season in Chico, CA?

Chico's average frost-free growing season is about 257 days, running from the typical last spring frost (March 4) to the typical first fall frost (November 17).

What USDA hardiness zone is Chico, CA in?

Chico, CA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.