Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Valle Vista, CA

The average first fall frost in Valle Vista, CA is December 23, and the average last spring frost is January 10, giving a growing season of about 350 days.

Plan your garden around Valle Vista, 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 10

Safe Feb 25 Typical Jan 10 Risky Dec 14

First Fall Frost

December 23

Safe Nov 27 Typical Dec 23 Risky Jan 31

Growing Season

350 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 HEMET, CA US, 1.1 km away.

— days until the typical last spring frost

How Valle Vista Compares

Valle Vista's typical last spring frost (Jan 10) comes earlier than in 65% of the 427 California cities we track.
Its 350-day growing season is 14 days longer than the California median of 336 days.
Valle Vista shares its NOAA weather station with East Hemet (4 km away), so their typical frost dates are the same.
August is the warmest month (average high 97°F) and December the coldest (average low 43°F).

Monthly Temperatures

Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Tomato	Nov 15 – Nov 29	—	Jan 17 – Jan 24	—	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 1 – Nov 15	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	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 1 – Nov 15	—	Jan 24 – Jan 31	—	65–85 days	Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant.
Cucumber	Dec 13 – Dec 20	Jan 17 – Jan 24	Jan 17 – Jan 24	—	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 20 – Dec 27	Jan 17 – Jan 31	Jan 17 – Jan 24	—	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 13 – Dec 20	Jan 17 – Jan 31	Jan 17 – Jan 24	—	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 17 – Jan 31	—	—	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 13 – Dec 20	—	Jan 24 – Jan 31	—	70–90 days	Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost.
Cantaloupe	Dec 13 – Dec 20	—	Jan 24 – Jan 31	—	70–90 days	Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting.
Corn	—	Jan 10 – Jan 24	—	—	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 10 – Jan 24	—	—	50–65 days	Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush.
Pea	—	Nov 29 – Dec 13	—	—	55–70 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Lettuce	—	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	Oct 28 – Nov 11	45–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach	—	Nov 29 – Dec 13	—	Oct 28 – Nov 11	40–50 days	Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked.
Kale	—	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	Oct 14 – Oct 28	50–65 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants.
Arugula	—	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	Nov 11 – Nov 18	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 20 – Jan 3	—	—	50–60 days	Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too.
Broccoli	Nov 22 – Dec 6	—	Dec 20 – Dec 27	Oct 21 – Oct 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	Nov 22 – Dec 6	—	Dec 27 – Jan 3	Oct 14 – Oct 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	Nov 22 – Dec 6	—	Dec 13 – Dec 27	Oct 14 – Oct 28	60–100 days	Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Brussels Sprouts	Nov 22 – Dec 6	—	Dec 20 – Jan 3	—	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 13 – Dec 27	—	Sep 30 – Oct 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	—	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	Oct 14 – Oct 28	50–65 days	Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish	—	Dec 6 – Dec 20	—	Nov 11 – Nov 25	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 13 – Dec 27	—	Oct 14 – Oct 28	40–60 days	Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost.
Onion	Nov 1 – Nov 15	—	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	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 25 – Dec 9	240–270 days	Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates.
Potato	—	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	—	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 24 – Feb 7	—	90–120 days	Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive.
Asparagus	—	—	Dec 13 – Dec 27	—	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.

Herbs
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Basil	Nov 29 – Dec 6	—	Jan 17 – Jan 24	—	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 20 – Jan 3	—	Oct 28 – Nov 11	45–70 days	Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring.
Parsley	Nov 15 – Nov 29	—	Dec 27 – Jan 3	—	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 20 – Jan 3	—	—	40–60 days	Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer.
Oregano	Nov 15 – Nov 29	—	Jan 10 – Jan 17	—	80–90 days	Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date.
Thyme	Nov 15 – Nov 29	—	Jan 10 – Jan 17	—	85–95 days	Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost.

Flowers
Crop	Start indoors	Direct sow	Transplant	Fall planting	Maturity	Notes
Sunflower	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	—	70–100 days	Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting.
Zinnia	Dec 13 – Dec 20	Jan 17 – Jan 31	Jan 17 – Jan 24	—	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 29 – Dec 13	—	Jan 17 – Jan 24	—	45–60 days	Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed.
Cosmos	Dec 13 – Dec 20	Jan 17 – Jan 31	Jan 17 – Jan 24	—	60–90 days	Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early.
Nasturtium	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	—	50–65 days	Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed.
Dahlia	—	—	Jan 17 – Jan 31	—	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 Valle Vista, CA?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the HEMET, CA US station, the last spring frost in Valle Vista typically falls around January 10. A cautious gardener might wait until February 25 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while December 14 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Valle Vista, CA in fall?

The first fall frost in Valle Vista typically arrives around December 23. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 27; in milder years it can hold off until January 31.

How long is the growing season in Valle Vista, CA?

Valle Vista's average frost-free growing season is about 350 days, running from the typical last spring frost (January 10) to the typical first fall frost (December 23).

What USDA hardiness zone is Valle Vista, CA in?

Valle Vista, 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.