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Last and first frost dates in Fresno

United States

In Fresno the last spring frost usually comes around 5 February and the first autumn frost around 5 December, which leaves about 303 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 15 March to 15 August.

Last spring frostaround 5 February
First autumn frostaround 5 December
Frost-free days303 days
Hardiness zone (USDA-equivalent)official USDA map: 9b

Median of 2016–2025 for the 25 km grid cell of the city: the last day at or below 0 °C in spring and the first in autumn (ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo). In a cold year a frost can come a week or two later — Greenly warns 48 hours ahead.

When is the last frost in Fresno?

The last frost in Fresno usually comes around 5 February: that is the median of 2016–2025, so in about half of those years the last night at or below 0 °C came later. Hardy crops start before it and frost-tender ones only after it: in the table below arugula can go into open ground from 15 January, while corn waits until 12 February. The first autumn frost follows around 5 December, about 303 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha13 December – 27 August22 January – 6 October12 February – 6 October
Ageratumfrom 28 December—from 15 March
Arugula——sow 15 January – 31 October
Basil10 February – 3 October20 March – 10 November10 April – 10 November
Beet——sow 15 January – 6 October
Bell Pepper19 January – 16 June20 March – 15 August10 April – 15 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 21 November—from 12 February
Bok Choy18 December – 14 October22 January – 18 November12 February – 18 November
Borage——sow 12 February – 11 October
Broad bean——sow 15 January – 27 August
Broccoli——sow 15 January – 20 August
Brussels Sprouts10 November – 18 July25 December – 1 September15 January – 1 September
Busy Lizziefrom 20 November—from 12 February
Cabbage——sow 15 January – 28 July
Calendula——sow from 15 January
Carrot——sow 15 January – 12 September
Cauliflower13 November – 20 August25 December – 1 October15 January – 1 October
Celeriac6 November – 17 June22 January – 2 September12 February – 2 September
Celery6 November – 27 June22 January – 12 September12 February – 12 September
Celosiafrom 21 Januaryfrom 7 Marchfrom 28 March
Chamomile——sow 15 January – 1 October
Chayote26 October – 10 June22 January – 6 September12 February – 6 September
Chickpea——sow 15 January – 17 August
Chicory30 November – 11 September—15 January – 6 October
Chili Pepper19 January – 23 July20 March – 21 September10 April – 21 September
China asterfrom 27 Januaryfrom 20 Marchfrom 10 April
Chives——sow 15 January – 22 September
Cilantro——sow 15 January – 2 October
Corn——sow 12 February – 17 August
Corn poppy——sow from 15 January
Cosmosfrom 21 Januaryfrom 7 Marchfrom 28 March
Cucumber20 February – 23 August20 March – 20 September10 April – 20 September
Daikon——sow 15 January – 29 September
Delphiniumfrom 27 October—from 15 January
Dill——sow 15 January – 12 October
Edging lobeliafrom 20 November—from 12 February
Eggplant19 January – 16 June20 March – 15 August10 April – 15 August
Florence fennel8 December – 27 August22 January – 11 October12 February – 11 October
Foxglovefrom 9 October—from 15 January
Garden sorrel——sow 15 January – 30 September
Green Beans——sow 28 March – 25 August
Hollyhock——sow from 15 January
Hyssop——sow 15 January – 23 August
Kale——sow 15 January – 24 September
Kiwano21 January – 30 August22 February – 1 October15 March – 1 October
Kohlrabi——sow 15 January – 4 October
Leek16 October – 8 June25 December – 17 August15 January – 17 August
Lemon balm——sow 15 January – 26 September
Lettuce——sow 15 January – 9 October
Lisianthusfrom 29 Septemberfrom 25 Decemberfrom 15 January
Lovage——sow from 15 January
Luffa6 February – 24 June20 March – 5 August10 April – 5 August
Marigoldfrom 11 Decemberfrom 22 Januaryfrom 12 February
Marjoram19 January – 11 September—10 April – 10 November
Melon20 February – 10 August20 March – 7 September10 April – 7 September
Microgreens——sow 28 March – 21 November
Moringa6 February – 16 September2 April – 10 November23 April – 10 November
Moss rosefrom 27 November—from 12 February
Mustard greens——sow 15 January – 21 October
Napa cabbage20 December – 21 September22 January – 24 October12 February – 24 October
Nasturtiumfrom 15 Decemberfrom 22 Januaryfrom 12 February
Okra6 February – 4 September20 March – 16 October10 April – 16 October
Oregano26 October – 1 September25 December – 31 October15 January – 31 October
Pansyfrom 30 Octoberfrom 25 Decemberfrom 15 January
Parsley——sow 15 January – 20 September
Parsnip——sow 15 January – 9 August
Peanut11 February – 31 July20 March – 6 September10 April – 6 September
Peas——sow 15 January – 22 September
Petuniafrom 16 Januaryfrom 20 Marchfrom 10 April
Physalis8 January – 28 July22 February – 11 September15 March – 11 September
Pumpkin6 February – 29 June20 March – 10 August10 April – 10 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 24 October—from 15 January
Radish——sow 15 January – 5 November
Sage6 November – 28 August25 December – 16 October15 January – 16 October
Scarlet sagefrom 1 January—from 15 March
Snapdragonfrom 21 Octoberfrom 25 Decemberfrom 15 January
Soybean——sow 10 April – 16 September
Spinach——sow 15 January – 11 October
Stevia4 January – 19 July22 February – 6 September15 March – 6 September
Stock——sow from 15 January
Sunflower——sow from 28 March
Sweet alyssum——sow from 15 January
Sweet Corn10 January – 11 September1 February – 3 October22 February – 3 October
Sweet peafrom 13 Novemberfrom 25 Decemberfrom 15 January
Sweet William——sow from 15 January
Swiss Chard——sow 15 January – 6 October
Thyme——sow 15 January – 17 August
Tomato1 January – 24 June22 February – 15 August15 March – 15 August
Turnip——sow 15 January – 8 October
Watercress——sow 15 January – 19 October
Watermelon20 February – 29 July20 March – 26 August10 April – 26 August
Zinniafrom 26 Februaryfrom 2 Aprilfrom 23 April
Zucchini27 February – 28 August20 March – 18 September10 April – 18 September

Planting out: a week after the last frost once the soil is warm enough for the crop; frost-hardy crops three weeks before it; an unheated greenhouse three weeks earlier. Seedlings are sown so they are ready on that day. Each window starts on the Greenly calendar date and ends on the last day that still leaves the crop’s days to harvest (from its card) before the average first autumn frost, plus six weeks of picking for crops harvested over weeks (tomatoes, peppers, aubergines, cucumbers, courgettes, pumpkins, watermelons, beans) — our rule; earlier in the window is safer.

What planting zone is Fresno?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Fresno (ZIP 93702) in zone 9b. Zone 9b stands for an average coldest night of 25 to 30 °F (-3.9 to -1.1 °C), so perennials hardy to zone 9b or a colder zone should come through a typical winter here.

Check the official USDA map for Fresno: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Fresno

The day the top 7 cm of soil first averages each temperature over a week, median of 2016–2025 (ERA5 via Open-Meteo). The soil reaches 10 °C 21 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 38 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C15 January21 days earlier
15 °C15 March38 days later
18 °C10 April64 days later

Frost dates near Fresno

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Stockton (4 February) and latest in Santa Barbara (15 March).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Bakersfield168 km16 February14 December
Stockton190 km4 February3 December
San Jose199 km24 February—
Sacramento254 km18 February11 December
Santa Barbara259 km15 March15 December

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Fresno

Within 15 km of Fresno OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop and 1 farm shop (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is Green Source Genetics - Clones in Fresno, 9 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Fresno

Frosts in Fresno usually come from about 5 December to about 5 February. These plants have indoor care in their Greenly cards and are harvested quickly, so they can be sown on a windowsill in winter.

Weather in Fresno by month

Average weather in Fresno over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (25.2–40 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: May–September (30.3–40 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in January, average 4.5 °C. About 407 mm of rain falls in a year, on 41 days; March is the wettest month (94 mm) and July the driest (0 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January154.5778
February17.54.9656
March19.57.4949
April25.210.6273
May30.314.7152
June36.519.510
July4022.500
August38.821.920
September3518.631
October28.112.5121
November19.97.2434
December14.44.5687

Average of the daily highs and lows, rain per month and days with at least 1 mm (ERA5 via Open-Meteo, the same grid cell as the frost dates).

Planted in autumn

CropWhen to plant
Bearded Irisby 5 November
Crocusby 5 November
Daffodilby 5 November
Garlic5 November – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 5 November
Helleboreby 5 November
Hyacinthby 5 November
Lilyby 5 November
Ornamental onionby 5 November
Peonyby 5 November
Saffronby 5 November
Snowdropby 5 November
Tulipby 5 November
Wild garlicby 5 November

From a month before the first autumn frost, so the roots grow before winter, to the late-planting limit on each crop’s page (about two weeks before the ground freezes, by ten years of weather).