Last frost date in Santa Cruz, California
January 29
Average last frost in spring. In an early year (1 in 10) it's over by December 25; in a late year (1 in 10) it comes after February 28.
December 13
Average first frost in fall. 1 year in 10 it comes by November 23.
A 32°F night happens here about 9 years in 10; in those years these are the usual dates.
Source: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Santa Cruz (USC00047916), 2.2 miles from Santa Cruz, elevation 70 ft. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. These are long-term averages, not a forecast.
| Early year | Average | Late year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last frost in spring | Dec 25 | Jan 29 | Feb 28 |
| First frost in fall | Nov 23 | Dec 13 | Jan 22 |
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: 323
Planting calendar for Santa Cruz
Fall planting
USDA dates for places whose average first freeze is about December 10 (Santa Cruz: December 13).
- SoybeansJune 1 – July 30 (past for this year)
- Summer squashJune 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Sweet potatoesJune 1 – July 1 (past for this year)
- Swiss chardJune 1 – Dec 1Now
- Black-eyed peasJuly 1 – Sept 20 (past for this year)
- Broccoli plantsAug 1 – Nov 1Now
- Brussels sprouts plantsAug 1 – Nov 1Now
- Eggplant plantsAug 1 – Sept 30 (past for this year)
- OkraAug 1 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- PotatoesAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- RadishesAug 1 – Sept 15 (past for this year)
- Winter squashAug 1 – Sept 1 (past for this year)
- CucumbersAug 15 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- Peppers plantsAug 15 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- SalsifyAug 15 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- TomatoesAug 15 – Oct 1 (past for this year)
- Witloof chicoryAug 15 – Oct 15 (past for this year)
- BeetsSept 1 – Dec 31Now
- Cabbage plantsSept 1 – Dec 31Now
- Cauliflower plantsSept 1 – Oct 20 (past for this year)
- Celery and celeriac plantsSept 1 – Dec 31Now
- Chinese cabbageSept 1 – Nov 15Now
- Collards plantsSept 1 – Dec 31Now
- EndiveSept 1 – Dec 31Now
- Florence fennelSept 1 – Dec 1Now
- KaleSept 1 – Dec 31Now
- LeeksSept 1 – Nov 1Now
- Lima beansSept 1 – 30 (past for this year)
- Mustard greensSept 1 – Dec 1Now
- Onion seedSept 1 – Nov 1Now
- ParsnipsSept 1 – Dec 1Now
- Snap beansSept 1 – 30 (past for this year)
- SorrelSept 1 – Dec 15Now
- CarrotsSept 15 – Dec 1Now
- GarlicSept 15 – Nov 15Now
- Head lettuce plantsSept 15 – Dec 31Now
- KohlrabiSept 15 – Dec 31Now
- Leaf lettuceSept 15 – Dec 31Now
- ParsleySept 15 – Dec 31Now
- ShallotsSept 15 – Nov 1Now
- Corn saladOct 1 – Dec 31Now
- DandelionOct 1 – Dec 31Now
- Garden peasOct 1 – Dec 31Now
- Onion plants plantsOct 1 – Dec 31Now
- RutabagaOct 1 – Nov 15Now
- SpinachOct 1 – Dec 31Now
- TurnipsOct 1 – Dec 1Now
- Upland cressOct 1 – Dec 31Now
- 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 January 30 (Santa Cruz: January 29).
- BeetsJan 1 – Mar 15
- Broccoli plantsJan 1 – 30
- Brussels sprouts plantsJan 1 – 30
- Cabbage plantsJan 1 – 15
- CarrotsJan 1 – Mar 1
- Cauliflower plantsJan 1 – Feb 1
- Celery and celeriac plantsJan 1 – Feb 1
- Chervil and chivesJan 1 – Feb 1
- Collards plantsJan 1 – Feb 15
- Corn saladJan 1 – Feb 15
- DandelionJan 1 – Feb 1
- EndiveJan 1 – Mar 1
- Florence fennelJan 1 – Mar 1
- Garden peasJan 1 – Feb 15
- Head lettuce plantsJan 1 – Feb 1
- KaleJan 1 – Feb 1
- KohlrabiJan 1 – Feb 1
- Leaf lettuceJan 1 – Feb 1
- LeeksJan 1 – Feb 1
- Mustard greensJan 1 – Mar 1
- Onion plants plantsJan 1 – 15
- Onion seedJan 1 – 15
- Onion setsJan 1 – 15
- ParsleyJan 1 – 30
- PotatoesJan 1 – Feb 15
- RadishesJan 1 – Apr 1
- SalsifyJan 1 – Feb 1
- ShallotsJan 1 – Feb 1
- SorrelJan 1 – Mar 1
- SpinachJan 1 – Feb 15
- Swiss chardJan 1 – Apr 1
- TurnipsJan 1 – Mar 1
- Upland cressJan 1 – Feb 1
- Eggplant plantsFeb 1 – Mar 1
- Lima beansFeb 1 – Apr 15
- New Zealand spinachFeb 1 – Apr 15
- Peppers plantsFeb 1 – Apr 1
- Snap beansFeb 1 – Apr 1
- Summer squashFeb 1 – Apr 15
- Sweet cornFeb 1 – Mar 15
- TomatoesFeb 1 – Apr 1
- Black-eyed peasFeb 15 – May 1
- Cantaloupe (muskmelon)Feb 15 – Mar 15
- CucumbersFeb 15 – Mar 15
- OkraFeb 15 – Apr 1
- Sweet potatoesFeb 15 – May 15
- WatermelonFeb 15 – Mar 15
- SoybeansMar 1 – June 30
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
- Scotts Valley 6 mi · last frost Mar 25
- Watsonville 15 mi · last frost Jan 28
- Los Gatos 18 mi · last frost Feb 2
- Saratoga 20 mi · last frost Feb 2
- Campbell 22 mi · last frost Feb 2