Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for El Centro, CA
Plan your garden around El Centro, CA's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
January 3
Safe Feb 4
Typical Jan 3
Risky Dec 15
First Fall Frost
December 27
Safe Dec 9
Typical Dec 27
Risky Jan 26
Growing Season
363 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 EL CENTRO 2 SSW, CA US, 2.8 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 8 – Nov 22 | — | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | 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 25 – Nov 8 | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | 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 25 – Nov 8 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Dec 6 – Dec 13 | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | 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 13 – Dec 20 | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | 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 6 – Dec 13 | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | 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 10 – Jan 24 | — | — | 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 6 – Dec 13 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Dec 6 – Dec 13 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | — | 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 | — | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | — | Nov 1 – Nov 15 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | — | Nov 1 – Nov 15 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | — | Oct 18 – Nov 1 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | — | Nov 15 – Nov 22 | 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 13 – Dec 27 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Nov 15 – Nov 29 | — | Dec 13 – Dec 20 | Oct 25 – Nov 1 | 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 15 – Nov 29 | — | Dec 20 – Dec 27 | Oct 18 – Oct 25 | 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 15 – Nov 29 | — | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Oct 18 – Nov 1 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Nov 15 – Nov 29 | — | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | — | 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 6 – Dec 20 | — | Oct 4 – Oct 18 | 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 6 – Dec 20 | — | Oct 18 – Nov 1 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | — | Nov 15 – Nov 29 | 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 6 – Dec 20 | — | Oct 18 – Nov 1 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Oct 25 – Nov 8 | — | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | — | 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 29 – Dec 13 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | — | — | 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 17 – Jan 31 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | — | 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 22 – Nov 29 | — | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | 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 13 – Dec 27 | — | Nov 1 – Nov 15 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Nov 8 – Nov 22 | — | Dec 20 – Dec 27 | — | 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 13 – Dec 27 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Nov 8 – Nov 22 | — | Jan 3 – Jan 10 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Nov 8 – Nov 22 | — | Jan 3 – Jan 10 | — | 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 10 – Jan 24 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Dec 6 – Dec 13 | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | 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 22 – Dec 6 | — | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Dec 6 – Dec 13 | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | 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 El Centro, CA?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the EL CENTRO 2 SSW, CA US station, the last spring frost in El Centro typically falls around January 3. A cautious gardener might wait until February 4 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while December 15 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in El Centro, CA in fall?
The first fall frost in El Centro typically arrives around December 27. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as December 9; in milder years it can hold off until January 26.
How long is the growing season in El Centro, CA?
El Centro's average frost-free growing season is about 363 days, running from the typical last spring frost (January 3) to the typical first fall frost (December 27).
What USDA hardiness zone is El Centro, CA in?
El Centro, 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.