Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Daly City, CA

The average first fall frost in Daly City, CA is December 25, and the average last spring frost is December 30, giving a growing season of about 365 days.

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.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Daly City Compares

Daly City's typical last spring frost (Dec 30) comes later than in 96% of the 427 California cities we track.
Its 365-day growing season is 29 days longer than the California median of 336 days.
Compared with Berkeley (25 km away), Daly City's last spring frost comes 361 days later than Berkeley's, and its first fall frost arrives 358 days later.
October is the warmest month (average high 66°F) and January the coldest (average low 46°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
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.

Herbs
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.

Flowers
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.