Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Hanford, CA
Plan your garden around Hanford, CA's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
February 7
Safe Mar 4
Typical Feb 7
Risky Jan 9
First Fall Frost
December 1
Safe Nov 16
Typical Dec 1
Risky Dec 22
Growing Season
296 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 9a
Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.
Data: NOAA station HANFORD 1 S, CA US, 1.5 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 | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | — | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | 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 | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | — | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 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 | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 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 | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | — | 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 | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | — | Feb 21 – Feb 28 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | — | — | 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 | — | Feb 7 – Feb 21 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | Oct 6 – Oct 20 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | — | Oct 6 – Oct 20 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | Sep 22 – Oct 6 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | Oct 20 – Oct 27 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | Sep 29 – Oct 6 | 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 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | Sep 22 – Sep 29 | 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 | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | 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 | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | Sep 8 – Sep 22 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | Sep 22 – Oct 6 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | — | Oct 20 – Nov 3 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | Sep 22 – Oct 6 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | 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 3 – Nov 17 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | — | 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 | — | — | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Jan 10 – Jan 24 | — | 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 | Dec 27 – Jan 3 | — | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 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 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | Oct 6 – Oct 20 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | — | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | — | 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 | — | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | — | Feb 7 – Feb 14 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | — | Feb 7 – Feb 14 | — | 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 | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Dec 27 – Jan 10 | — | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Jan 10 – Jan 17 | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | Feb 14 – Feb 21 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Feb 14 – Feb 28 | — | 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 Hanford, CA?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the HANFORD 1 S, CA US station, the last spring frost in Hanford typically falls around February 7. A cautious gardener might wait until March 4 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 9 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Hanford, CA in fall?
The first fall frost in Hanford typically arrives around December 1. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 16; in milder years it can hold off until December 22.
How long is the growing season in Hanford, CA?
Hanford's average frost-free growing season is about 296 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 7) to the typical first fall frost (December 1).
What USDA hardiness zone is Hanford, CA in?
Hanford, CA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, 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.