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Mountain View, CA Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 9b · ZIP 94041 · elevation 8′ · NOAA & USDA data

Mountain View is in USDA hardiness zone 9b (winters can dip to 25 to 30°F), with a growing season of about 353 days between the average last spring frost (January 6) and first fall frost (December 23). The warmest month is September (avg high 79.6°F); the coldest is December (avg low 38.6°F). It averages 15.1″ of precipitation a year. Start cool-season crops several weeks before the last frost; wait until after it for tomatoes, peppers and other tender crops.

Hardiness zone
9b
min temp 25 to 30°F
Last spring frost
January 6
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
First fall frost
December 23
avg (50% prob, 32°F)
Growing season
353 days
frost-free window
Warmest month
September
avg high 79.6°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Mountain View

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Palo Alto, CA (5.2 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

MonthAvg highAvg lowMeanPrecip (in)Snow (in)
January 57.8 39 48.4 3 0
February 60.7 41.3 51 3.2 0
March 65.5 43.6 54.6 2.2 0
April 69.6 45.3 57.4 1 0
May 73.3 49.5 61.4 0.4 0
June 78.5 52.7 65.6 0.1 0
July 79.4 55.7 67.6 0 0
August 78.7 55.3 67 0 0
September 79.6 53 66.3 0.1 0
October 74 48.4 61.2 0.6 0
November 63.7 42.5 53.1 1.6 0
December 57.6 38.6 48.1 3 0

What to plant when in Mountain View

CropSeasonWhat to do & when
TomatoeswarmStart seeds indoors: November 25 · Transplant out: January 13
PepperswarmStart seeds indoors: November 11 · Transplant out: January 20
CucumberswarmDirect sow: January 13
Zucchini / squashwarmDirect sow: January 13
Bush beanswarmDirect sow: January 13
Sweet cornwarmDirect sow: January 13
BasilwarmTransplant out: January 13
PeascoolSow (spring): December 2 · Sow (fall): October 28
SpinachcoolSow (spring): November 25 · Sow (fall): October 28
LettucecoolSow (spring): December 9 · Sow (fall): October 28
KalecoolTransplant (spring): December 16 · Sow (fall): October 14
BroccolicoolTransplant (spring): December 23
CarrotscoolSow (spring): December 16 · Sow (fall): October 14
OnionscoolTransplant (spring): December 9
PotatoescoolPlant seed potatoes: December 23
RadishescoolSow (spring): December 9 · Sow (fall): November 11

Dates are computed from Mountain View's average frost dates using standard cool-/warm-season timing. They're a starting point — a cold spring, a warm microclimate, or a fast-maturing variety can shift them by a week or two.

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Gear that helps you plant on time

Some links below are Amazon affiliate links (tag theboringthin-20). If you buy through them we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you — it keeps this almanac free. We only list generic, genuinely-useful categories.

Soil thermometer →Know when the ground is warm enough to sow — the honest signal, not the calendar.Seed-starting trays + dome →Start tomatoes & peppers indoors on the schedule below.Seedling heat mat →Warms the soil for faster, more even germination indoors.Floating row cover / frost cloth →Buys you 4–8°F to beat an early or late frost.Raised garden bed kit →Warms and drains faster in spring than in-ground soil.Garden gloves →Basic kit for transplant day.

Nearby cities in California

Sunnyvale, CAPalo Alto, CACupertino, CASanta Clara, CANewark, CACampbell, CARedwood City, CAMilpitas, CA

Sources & method. Hardiness zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University). Frost dates & growing season: NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals, nearest station with published freeze normals — Moffett Federal Airfield, CA, 1.9 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Palo Alto, CA, 5.2 mi (confidence: high). ZIP centroid from U.S. Census 2023 ZCTA data. Frost dates are the 50%-probability date — half of years frost occurs outside the stated date. Nothing here is invented; where the nearest station is far, we say so. Last updated 2026-07-22.