When is the last frost in Santa Clara, CA?

The average last spring frost (50% probability of 32°F) in Santa Clara is around January 12, based on NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals at the San Jose, CA station (3.4 mi away). Half of years it falls outside that date, so wait 1–2 weeks past it before setting out frost-tender plants.

When is the first fall frost in Santa Clara?

The average first fall frost in Santa Clara, CA is around December 22, giving roughly a 347-day frost-free growing season.

What planting zone is Santa Clara, CA?

Santa Clara is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b (average annual extreme minimum temperature 25 to 30°F), from the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

What is the weather like in Santa Clara?

In Santa Clara, CA the warmest month is August (avg high 82.7°F) and the coldest is December (avg low 42.8°F). It averages about 16.1″ of precipitation a year.

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Santa Clara, CA Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 9b · ZIP 95051 · elevation 20′ · NOAA & USDA data

Santa Clara is in USDA hardiness zone 9b (winters can dip to 25 to 30°F), with a growing season of about 347 days between the average last spring frost (January 12) and first fall frost (December 22). The warmest month is August (avg high 82.7°F); the coldest is December (avg low 42.8°F). It averages 16.1″ 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

min temp 25 to 30°F

Last spring frost

January 12

avg (50% prob, 32°F)

First fall frost

December 22

avg (50% prob, 32°F)

Growing season

347 days

frost-free window

Warmest month

August

avg high 82.7°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Santa Clara

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at San Jose, CA (4.5 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Mean	Precip (in)
January	59	43.3	51.1	3
February	62.8	45.4	54.1	3.2
March	66.4	47.6	57	2.6
April	70	49.8	59.9	1.2
May	74.9	53.3	64.1	0.5
June	80.1	57	68.5	0.2
July	82.2	59.1	70.6	0
August	82.7	59.8	71.2	0
September	81.4	58.2	69.8	0.1
October	74.6	53.8	64.2	0.8
November	65	47.2	56.1	1.4
December	58.8	42.8	50.8	3.1

What to plant when in Santa Clara

Crop	Season	What to do & when
Tomatoes	warm	Start seeds indoors: December 1 · Transplant out: January 19
Peppers	warm	Start seeds indoors: November 17 · Transplant out: January 26
Cucumbers	warm	Direct sow: January 19
Zucchini / squash	warm	Direct sow: January 19
Bush beans	warm	Direct sow: January 19
Sweet corn	warm	Direct sow: January 19
Basil	warm	Transplant out: January 19
Peas	cool	Sow (spring): December 8 · Sow (fall): October 27
Spinach	cool	Sow (spring): December 1 · Sow (fall): October 27
Lettuce	cool	Sow (spring): December 15 · Sow (fall): October 27
Kale	cool	Transplant (spring): December 22 · Sow (fall): October 13
Broccoli	cool	Transplant (spring): December 29
Carrots	cool	Sow (spring): December 22 · Sow (fall): October 13
Onions	cool	Transplant (spring): December 15
Potatoes	cool	Plant seed potatoes: December 29
Radishes	cool	Sow (spring): December 15 · Sow (fall): November 10

Dates are computed from Santa Clara'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, CA Campbell, CA Mountain View, CA Cupertino, CA Milpitas, CA Palo Alto, CA San Jose, CA Newark, 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 — San Jose, CA, 3.4 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: San Jose, CA, 4.5 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.