Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Woodland, CA

The average first fall frost in Woodland, CA is December 5, and the average last spring frost is February 7, giving a growing season of about 301 days.

Plan your garden around Woodland, 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 11 Typical Feb 7 Risky Jan 9
First Fall Frost
December 5
Safe Nov 19 Typical Dec 5 Risky Jan 1
Growing Season
301 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.
Data: NOAA station WOODLAND 1 WNW, CA US, 1.9 km away.
— days until the typical last spring frost

How Woodland Compares

Monthly Temperatures

Monthly normal temperatures (°F) 30°50°70°90° JFMAMJJASOND
Avg. high Avg. temp Avg. low

Planting Calendar

Vegetables
CropStart indoorsDirect sowTransplantFall plantingMaturityNotes
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 10 – Oct 24 45–60 days Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts.
Spinach — Dec 27 – Jan 10 — Oct 10 – Oct 24 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 26 – Oct 10 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 24 – Oct 31 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 Oct 3 – Oct 10 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 26 – Oct 3 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 26 – Oct 10 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 12 – Sep 26 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 26 – Oct 10 50–65 days Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost.
Radish — Jan 3 – Jan 17 — Oct 24 – Nov 7 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 26 – Oct 10 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 7 – Nov 21 240–270 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.
Herbs
CropStart indoorsDirect sowTransplantFall plantingMaturityNotes
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 10 – Oct 24 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.
Flowers
CropStart indoorsDirect sowTransplantFall plantingMaturityNotes
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 Woodland, CA?

Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the WOODLAND 1 WNW, CA US station, the last spring frost in Woodland typically falls around February 7. A cautious gardener might wait until March 11 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while January 9 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.

When is the first frost in Woodland, CA in fall?

The first fall frost in Woodland typically arrives around December 5. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 19; in milder years it can hold off until January 1.

How long is the growing season in Woodland, CA?

Woodland's average frost-free growing season is about 301 days, running from the typical last spring frost (February 7) to the typical first fall frost (December 5).

What USDA hardiness zone is Woodland, CA in?

Woodland, 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.

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