When is the last frost in Santa Cruz, CA?

The average last spring frost (50% probability of 32°F) in Santa Cruz is around January 29, based on NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals at the Santa Cruz, CA station (3.3 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 Cruz?

The average first fall frost in Santa Cruz, CA is around December 13, giving roughly a 323-day frost-free growing season.

What planting zone is Santa Cruz, CA?

Santa Cruz 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 Cruz?

In Santa Cruz, CA the warmest month is September (avg high 76.7°F) and the coldest is December (avg low 40.9°F). It averages about 30.6″ of precipitation a year.

Home › California › Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz, CA Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 9b · ZIP 95064 · elevation 21′ · NOAA & USDA data

Santa Cruz is in USDA hardiness zone 9b (winters can dip to 25 to 30°F), with a growing season of about 323 days between the average last spring frost (January 29) and first fall frost (December 13). The warmest month is September (avg high 76.7°F); the coldest is December (avg low 40.9°F). It averages 30.6″ 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 29

avg (50% prob, 32°F)

First fall frost

December 13

avg (50% prob, 32°F)

Growing season

323 days

frost-free window

Warmest month

September

avg high 76.7°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Santa Cruz

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Santa Cruz, CA (3.3 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Mean	Precip (in)
January	62.5	41.4	51.9	6.4
February	63.9	42.7	53.3	6.1
March	66.5	44.1	55.3	4.3
April	69.3	45.7	57.5	2
May	71.4	49	60.2	0.9
June	74	51.6	62.8	0.2
July	74.3	54.3	64.3	0
August	75.8	54.6	65.2	0
September	76.7	52.9	64.8	0.1
October	73.9	49.5	61.7	1.3
November	66.7	44.4	55.6	3.2
December	61.5	40.9	51.2	6

What to plant when in Santa Cruz

Crop	Season	What to do & when
Tomatoes	warm	Start seeds indoors: December 18 · Transplant out: February 5
Peppers	warm	Start seeds indoors: December 4 · Transplant out: February 12
Cucumbers	warm	Direct sow: February 5
Zucchini / squash	warm	Direct sow: February 5
Bush beans	warm	Direct sow: February 5
Sweet corn	warm	Direct sow: February 5
Basil	warm	Transplant out: February 5
Peas	cool	Sow (spring): December 25 · Sow (fall): October 18
Spinach	cool	Sow (spring): December 18 · Sow (fall): October 18
Lettuce	cool	Sow (spring): January 1 · Sow (fall): October 18
Kale	cool	Transplant (spring): January 8 · Sow (fall): October 4
Broccoli	cool	Transplant (spring): January 15
Carrots	cool	Sow (spring): January 8 · Sow (fall): October 4
Onions	cool	Transplant (spring): January 1
Potatoes	cool	Plant seed potatoes: January 15
Radishes	cool	Sow (spring): January 1 · Sow (fall): November 1

Dates are computed from Santa Cruz'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

Watsonville, CA Campbell, CA Cupertino, CA Morgan Hill, CA San Jose, CA Santa Clara, CA Mountain View, CA Sunnyvale, 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 — Santa Cruz, CA, 3.3 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Santa Cruz, CA, 3.3 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.