When is the last frost in Santa Maria, CA?

The average last spring frost (50% probability of 32°F) in Santa Maria is around February 4, based on NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 normals at the Santa Maria Public Ap, CA station (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 Maria?

The average first fall frost in Santa Maria, CA is around December 13, giving roughly a 315-day frost-free growing season.

What planting zone is Santa Maria, CA?

Santa Maria 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 Maria?

In Santa Maria, CA the warmest month is September (avg high 75°F) and the coldest is December (avg low 40.1°F). It averages about 13.3″ of precipitation a year.

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Santa Maria, CA Planting Calendar & Frost Dates

USDA hardiness zone 9b · ZIP 93455 · elevation 74′ · NOAA & USDA data

Santa Maria is in USDA hardiness zone 9b (winters can dip to 25 to 30°F), with a growing season of about 315 days between the average last spring frost (February 4) and first fall frost (December 13). The warmest month is September (avg high 75°F); the coldest is December (avg low 40.1°F). It averages 13.3″ 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

February 4

avg (50% prob, 32°F)

First fall frost

December 13

avg (50% prob, 32°F)

Growing season

315 days

frost-free window

Warmest month

September

avg high 75°F

Month-by-month typical weather in Santa Maria

Average conditions from the NOAA/NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals at Santa Maria Public Ap, CA (4 mi away). Temperatures °F, precipitation & snow in inches.

Month	Avg high	Avg low	Mean	Precip (in)	Snow (in)
January	64.7	41	52.8	2.7	–
February	64.8	42.5	53.6	2.9	–
March	66.3	44.3	55.3	2.6	–
April	68.1	45.4	56.7	0.9	–
May	69.3	48.7	59	0.4	–
June	71.3	51.6	61.5	0.1	–
July	73.3	54.9	64.1	0	–
August	73.8	55.1	64.5	0	–
September	75	53.7	64.3	0.1	–
October	74.6	49.8	62.2	0.5	–
November	70	44.3	57.1	1.1	–
December	64.3	40.1	52.2	2.1	–

What to plant when in Santa Maria

Crop	Season	What to do & when
Tomatoes	warm	Start seeds indoors: December 24 · Transplant out: February 11
Peppers	warm	Start seeds indoors: December 10 · Transplant out: February 18
Cucumbers	warm	Direct sow: February 11
Zucchini / squash	warm	Direct sow: February 11
Bush beans	warm	Direct sow: February 11
Sweet corn	warm	Direct sow: February 11
Basil	warm	Transplant out: February 11
Peas	cool	Sow (spring): December 31 · Sow (fall): October 18
Spinach	cool	Sow (spring): December 24 · Sow (fall): October 18
Lettuce	cool	Sow (spring): January 7 · Sow (fall): October 18
Kale	cool	Transplant (spring): January 14 · Sow (fall): October 4
Broccoli	cool	Transplant (spring): January 21
Carrots	cool	Sow (spring): January 14 · Sow (fall): October 4
Onions	cool	Transplant (spring): January 7
Potatoes	cool	Plant seed potatoes: January 21
Radishes	cool	Sow (spring): January 7 · Sow (fall): November 1

Dates are computed from Santa Maria'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

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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 Maria Public Ap, CA, 4 mi (confidence: high). Monthly weather normals: Santa Maria Public Ap, CA, 4 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.