Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Morro Bay, CA
Plan your garden around Morro Bay, 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 19
Safe Feb 9
Typical Jan 19
Risky Dec 30
First Fall Frost
January 14
Safe Dec 25
Typical Jan 14
Risky Feb 8
Growing Season
365 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 9b
Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.
Data: NOAA station MORRO BAY FIRE DEPT, CA US, 0.5 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 24 – Dec 8 | — | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | — | 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 10 – Nov 24 | — | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | — | 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 10 – Nov 24 | — | Feb 2 – Feb 9 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Dec 22 – Dec 29 | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | — | 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 29 – Jan 5 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | — | 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 22 – Dec 29 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | — | 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 26 – Feb 9 | — | — | 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 22 – Dec 29 | — | Feb 2 – Feb 9 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Dec 22 – Dec 29 | — | Feb 2 – Feb 9 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | — | 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 19 – Feb 2 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | — | Nov 19 – Dec 3 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | — | Nov 19 – Dec 3 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | — | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | — | Dec 3 – Dec 10 | 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 29 – Jan 12 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Dec 1 – Dec 15 | — | Dec 29 – Jan 5 | Nov 12 – Nov 19 | 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 1 – Dec 15 | — | Jan 5 – Jan 12 | Nov 5 – Nov 12 | 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 1 – Dec 15 | — | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Dec 1 – Dec 15 | — | Dec 29 – Jan 12 | — | 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 22 – Jan 5 | — | Oct 22 – Nov 5 | 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 22 – Jan 5 | — | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Dec 15 – Dec 29 | — | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | 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 22 – Jan 5 | — | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | — | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | — | 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 | — | — | — | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | — | — | 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 2 – Feb 16 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | — | 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 8 – Dec 15 | — | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | — | 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 29 – Jan 12 | — | Nov 19 – Dec 3 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | — | Jan 5 – Jan 12 | — | 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 29 – Jan 12 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | — | Jan 19 – Jan 26 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | — | Jan 19 – Jan 26 | — | 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 26 – Feb 9 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Dec 22 – Dec 29 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | — | 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 8 – Dec 22 | — | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Dec 22 – Dec 29 | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | Jan 26 – Feb 2 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Jan 26 – Feb 9 | — | 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 Morro Bay, CA?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the MORRO BAY FIRE DEPT, CA US station, the last spring frost in Morro Bay typically falls around January 19. A cautious gardener might wait until February 9 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while December 30 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Morro Bay, CA in fall?
The first fall frost in Morro Bay typically arrives around January 14. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as December 25; in milder years it can hold off until February 8.
How long is the growing season in Morro Bay, CA?
Morro Bay's average frost-free growing season is about 365 days, running from the typical last spring frost (January 19) to the typical first fall frost (January 14).
What USDA hardiness zone is Morro Bay, CA in?
Morro Bay, CA is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b, 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.