Last frost date in Atwater, California
March 3
Average last frost in spring. In an early year (1 in 10) it's over by February 2; in a late year (1 in 10) it comes after April 10.
November 24
Average first frost in fall. 1 year in 10 it comes by November 5.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Merced (USC00045532), 6.3 miles from Atwater, elevation 154 ft. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. These are long-term averages, not a forecast.
| Early year | Average | Late year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last frost in spring | Feb 2 | Mar 3 | Apr 10 |
| First frost in fall | Nov 5 | Nov 24 | Dec 14 |
An early or late year is one in 10: 1 year in 10 the frost comes before the early date, and 1 year in 10 after the late date.
Frost-free days in an average year: 263
Planting calendar for Atwater
Fall planting
USDA dates for places whose average first freeze is about November 20 (Atwater: November 24).
- CucumbersJune 1 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Eggplant plantsJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- New Zealand spinachJune 1 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- OkraJune 1 – Sept 10 (past for this year)
- Peppers plantsJune 1 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- SoybeansJune 1 – July 30 (past for this year)
- Summer squashJune 1 – Aug 20 (past for this year)
- Sweet cornJune 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- Sweet potatoesJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Swiss chardJune 1 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- TomatoesJune 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Black-eyed peasJuly 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- Snap beansJuly 1 – Sept 10 (past for this year)
- Winter squashJuly 1 – Aug 1 (past for this year)
- Celery and celeriac plantsJuly 15 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- Lima beansJuly 15 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- SalsifyJuly 15 – Aug 15 (past for this year)
- Witloof chicoryJuly 20 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- Broccoli plantsAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Brussels sprouts plantsAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Cauliflower plantsAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- ParsnipsAug 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- RutabagaAug 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- PotatoesAug 10 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Florence fennelAug 15 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- GarlicAug 15 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- KaleAug 15 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- ShallotsAug 15 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- SorrelAug 15 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- Collards plantsAug 25 – Nov 1Now
- BeetsSept 1 – Dec 1Now
- Cabbage plantsSept 1 – Dec 1Now
- CarrotsSept 1 – Nov 1Now
- Chinese cabbageSept 1 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- DandelionSept 1 – Nov 1Now
- EndiveSept 1 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- Head lettuce plantsSept 1 – Nov 1Now
- KohlrabiSept 1 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- Leaf lettuceSept 1 – Nov 1Now
- LeeksSept 1 – Nov 1Now
- Mustard greensSept 1 – Dec 1Now
- Onion seedSept 1 – Nov 1Now
- ParsleySept 1 – Dec 31Now
- RadishesSept 1 – Dec 1Now
- TurnipsSept 1 – Nov 15Now
- Corn saladOct 1 – Dec 1Now
- Garden peasOct 1 – Dec 1Now
- Onion plants plantsOct 1 – Dec 31Now
- SpinachOct 1 – Dec 1Now
- Upland cressOct 1 – Dec 1Now
- Chervil and chivesNov 1 – Dec 31Soon
- Onion setsNov 1 – Dec 31Soon
USDA lists horseradish as generally spring-planted here.
Spring planting
USDA dates for places whose average last freeze is about February 28 (Atwater: March 3).
- Corn saladJan 1 – Mar 1
- Leaf lettuceJan 1 – Mar 15
- Onion plants plantsJan 1 – Feb 1
- Onion seedJan 1 – Feb 15
- Onion setsJan 1 – Mar 1
- RadishesJan 1 – Apr 1
- RutabagaJan 1 – Feb 1
- ShallotsJan 1 – Mar 1
- SpinachJan 1 – Mar 1
- Cabbage plantsJan 15 – Feb 25
- Chervil and chivesJan 15 – Feb 15
- Collards plantsJan 15 – Mar 15
- DandelionJan 15 – Mar 1
- Garden peasJan 15 – Mar 1
- Head lettuce plantsJan 15 – Feb 15
- LeeksJan 15 – Feb 15
- ParsleyJan 15 – Mar 1
- ParsnipsJan 15 – Feb 15
- PotatoesJan 15 – Mar 1
- SalsifyJan 15 – Mar 1
- Cauliflower plantsJan 20 – Feb 20
- TurnipsJan 20 – Mar 1
- BeetsFeb 1 – Apr 15
- Broccoli plantsFeb 1 – Mar 1
- Brussels sprouts plantsFeb 1 – Mar 1
- CarrotsFeb 1 – Mar 1
- Celery and celeriac plantsFeb 1 – Mar 1
- EndiveFeb 1 – Mar 1
- Florence fennelFeb 1 – Mar 1
- KaleFeb 1 – 20
- KohlrabiFeb 1 – 20
- Mustard greensFeb 1 – Mar 1
- SorrelFeb 1 – Mar 10
- Swiss chardFeb 1 – May 1
- Upland cressFeb 1 – Mar 1
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)Mar 1 – Apr 15
- CucumbersMar 1 – Apr 15
- Sweet cornMar 1 – Apr 15
- WatermelonMar 1 – Apr 15
- Black-eyed peasMar 10 – June 20
- Eggplant plantsMar 10 – Apr 15
- OkraMar 10 – June 1
- Snap beansMar 10 – May 15
- TomatoesMar 10 – May 1
- Lima beansMar 15 – June 1
- New Zealand spinachMar 15 – May 15
- Peppers plantsMar 15 – May 1
- Summer squashMar 15 – May 15
- SoybeansMar 20 – June 30
- Sweet potatoesMar 20 – June 1
USDA lists chinese cabbage, garlic as generally fall-planted here.
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), “Suburban and Farm Vegetable Gardens,” tables 4 and 5 (earliest safe spring and latest safe fall dates), applied to this place's NOAA frost dates. “Plants” means setting out transplants, not sowing seed. How we match the table.
Nearby in California
- Merced 7 mi · last frost Mar 3
- Livingston 7 mi · last frost Jan 6
- Turlock 18 mi · last frost Jan 6
- Newman 23 mi · last frost Feb 26
- Los Banos 24 mi · last frost Jan 26