Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Shafter, CA
Plan your garden around Shafter, 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 20
Safe Mar 9
Typical Feb 20
Risky Jan 17
First Fall Frost
November 23
Safe Nov 5
Typical Nov 23
Risky Dec 9
Growing Season
276 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 SHAFTER 6E, CA US, 11.5 km away.
—
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 26 – Jan 9 | — | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | — | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | 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 | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | — | Mar 6 – Mar 13 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Jan 23 – Jan 30 | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | — | 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 30 – Feb 6 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | — | 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 23 – Jan 30 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | — | 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 27 – Mar 13 | — | — | 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 23 – Jan 30 | — | Mar 6 – Mar 13 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Jan 23 – Jan 30 | — | Mar 6 – Mar 13 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Feb 20 – Mar 6 | — | — | 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 20 – Mar 6 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | — | Sep 28 – Oct 12 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | Sep 28 – Oct 12 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | — | Sep 14 – Sep 28 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | — | Oct 12 – Oct 19 | 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 30 – Feb 13 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Jan 30 – Feb 6 | Sep 21 – Sep 28 | 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 | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | Sep 14 – Sep 21 | 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 | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | Sep 14 – Sep 28 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | — | 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 23 – Feb 6 | — | Aug 31 – Sep 14 | 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 23 – Feb 6 | — | Sep 14 – Sep 28 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | — | Oct 12 – Oct 26 | 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 23 – Feb 6 | — | Sep 14 – Sep 28 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | — | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | — | 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 | — | — | — | Oct 26 – Nov 9 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | — | — | 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 | — | — | Mar 6 – Mar 20 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | — | 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 | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | — | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | — | 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 30 – Feb 13 | — | Sep 28 – Oct 12 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | — | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | — | 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 30 – Feb 13 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | — | Feb 20 – Feb 27 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | — | Feb 20 – Feb 27 | — | 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 27 – Mar 13 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Jan 23 – Jan 30 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Jan 23 – Jan 30 | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | Feb 27 – Mar 6 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Feb 27 – Mar 13 | — | 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 Shafter, CA?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the SHAFTER 6E, CA US station, the last spring frost in Shafter typically falls around February 20. A cautious gardener might wait until March 9 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 17 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Shafter, CA in fall?
The first fall frost in Shafter typically arrives around November 23. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 5; in milder years it can hold off until December 9.
How long is the growing season in Shafter, CA?
Shafter's average frost-free growing season is about 276 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 20) to the typical first fall frost (November 23).
What USDA hardiness zone is Shafter, CA in?
Shafter, 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.