Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for La Crescenta-Montrose, CA
Plan your garden around La Crescenta-Montrose, 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 2
Safe Jan 31
Typical Jan 2
Risky Dec 11
First Fall Frost
December 26
Safe Dec 5
Typical Dec 26
Risky Jan 18
Growing Season
364 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 BURBANK VALLEY PUMP PLT, CA US, 11.5 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 | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | — | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | — | 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 24 – Nov 7 | — | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | 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 24 – Nov 7 | — | Jan 16 – Jan 23 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Dec 5 – Dec 12 | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | — | 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 12 – Dec 19 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | — | 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 5 – Dec 12 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | — | 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 9 – Jan 23 | — | — | 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 5 – Dec 12 | — | Jan 16 – Jan 23 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Dec 5 – Dec 12 | — | Jan 16 – Jan 23 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | — | 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 2 – Jan 16 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | — | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | Oct 17 – Oct 31 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | Nov 14 – Nov 21 | 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 12 – Dec 26 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | — | Dec 12 – Dec 19 | Oct 24 – Oct 31 | 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 14 – Nov 28 | — | Dec 19 – Dec 26 | Oct 17 – Oct 24 | 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 14 – Nov 28 | — | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | Oct 17 – Oct 31 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | — | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | — | 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 5 – Dec 19 | — | Oct 3 – Oct 17 | 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 5 – Dec 19 | — | Oct 17 – Oct 31 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | — | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | 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 5 – Dec 19 | — | Oct 17 – Oct 31 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Oct 24 – Nov 7 | — | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | 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 28 – Dec 12 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | — | 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 16 – Jan 30 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | 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 21 – Nov 28 | — | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | — | 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 12 – Dec 26 | — | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | — | Dec 19 – Dec 26 | — | 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 12 – Dec 26 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | — | Jan 2 – Jan 9 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | — | Jan 2 – Jan 9 | — | 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 9 – Jan 23 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Dec 5 – Dec 12 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | — | 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 21 – Dec 5 | — | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Dec 5 – Dec 12 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | 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 La Crescenta-Montrose, CA?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the BURBANK VALLEY PUMP PLT, CA US station, the last spring frost in La Crescenta-Montrose typically falls around January 2. A cautious gardener might wait until January 31 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while December 11 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in La Crescenta-Montrose, CA in fall?
The first fall frost in La Crescenta-Montrose typically arrives around December 26. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as December 5; in milder years it can hold off until January 18.
How long is the growing season in La Crescenta-Montrose, CA?
La Crescenta-Montrose's average frost-free growing season is about 364 days, running from the typical last spring frost (January 2) to the typical first fall frost (December 26).
What USDA hardiness zone is La Crescenta-Montrose, CA in?
La Crescenta-Montrose, 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.