Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Daly City, CA
Plan your garden around Daly 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
December 30
Safe Mar 13
Typical Dec 30
Risky Dec 2
First Fall Frost
December 25
Safe Nov 26
Typical Dec 25
Risky Feb 13
Growing Season
365 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 10a
Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.
Data: NOAA station SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE, CA US, 4.6 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | — | Jan 6 – Jan 13 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | — | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | — | 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 | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | — | Jan 13 – Jan 20 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Dec 2 – Dec 9 | Jan 6 – Jan 13 | Jan 6 – Jan 13 | — | 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 | Dec 9 – Dec 16 | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Jan 6 – Jan 13 | — | 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 | Dec 2 – Dec 9 | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Jan 6 – Jan 13 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | — | — | 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 | Dec 2 – Dec 9 | — | Jan 13 – Jan 20 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Dec 2 – Dec 9 | — | Jan 13 – Jan 20 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | — | — | 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 | — | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | — | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | — | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | — | Oct 16 – Oct 30 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | — | Nov 13 – Nov 20 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Dec 9 – Dec 23 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Nov 11 – Nov 25 | — | Dec 9 – Dec 16 | Oct 23 – Oct 30 | 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 | Nov 11 – Nov 25 | — | Dec 16 – Dec 23 | Oct 16 – Oct 23 | 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 | Nov 11 – Nov 25 | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Oct 16 – Oct 30 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Nov 11 – Nov 25 | — | Dec 9 – Dec 23 | — | 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 | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | — | Oct 2 – Oct 16 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | — | Oct 16 – Oct 30 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Nov 25 – Dec 9 | — | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | — | Oct 16 – Oct 30 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | — | 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 | — | — | — | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | — | — | 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 | — | — | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | — | 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. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Nov 18 – Nov 25 | — | Jan 6 – Jan 13 | — | 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 | — | Dec 9 – Dec 23 | — | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | — | Dec 16 – Dec 23 | — | 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 | — | Dec 9 – Dec 23 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | — | Dec 30 – Jan 6 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | — | Dec 30 – Jan 6 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Dec 2 – Dec 9 | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Jan 6 – Jan 13 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | — | Jan 6 – Jan 13 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Dec 2 – Dec 9 | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | Jan 6 – Jan 13 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Jan 6 – Jan 20 | — | 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 Daly City, CA?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE, CA US station, the last spring frost in Daly City typically falls around December 30. A cautious gardener might wait until March 13 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while December 2 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Daly City, CA in fall?
The first fall frost in Daly City typically arrives around December 25. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 26; in milder years it can hold off until February 13.
How long is the growing season in Daly City, CA?
Daly City's average frost-free growing season is about 365 days, running from the typical last spring frost (December 30) to the typical first fall frost (December 25).
What USDA hardiness zone is Daly City, CA in?
Daly City, CA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10a, 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.