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Last and first frost dates in Sacramento

United States

In Sacramento the last spring frost usually comes around 18 February and the first autumn frost around 11 December, which leaves about 296 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 31 March to 21 August.

Last spring frostaround 18 February
First autumn frostaround 11 December
Frost-free days296 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 Sacramento?

The last frost in Sacramento usually comes around 18 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 28 January, while corn waits until 25 February. The first autumn frost follows around 11 December, about 296 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha26 December – 2 September4 February – 12 October25 February – 12 October
Ageratumfrom 13 January—from 31 March
Arugula——sow 28 January – 6 November
Basil24 February – 9 October3 April – 16 November24 April – 16 November
Beet——sow 28 January – 12 October
Bell Pepper2 February – 22 June3 April – 21 August24 April – 21 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 4 December—from 25 February
Bok Choy31 December – 20 October4 February – 24 November25 February – 24 November
Borage——sow 25 February – 17 October
Broad bean——sow 28 January – 2 September
Broccoli——sow 28 January – 26 August
Brussels Sprouts23 November – 24 July7 January – 7 September28 January – 7 September
Busy Lizziefrom 3 December—from 25 February
Cabbage——sow 28 January – 3 August
Calendula——sow from 28 January
Carrot——sow 28 January – 18 September
Cauliflower26 November – 26 August7 January – 7 October28 January – 7 October
Celeriac19 November – 23 June4 February – 8 September25 February – 8 September
Celery19 November – 3 July4 February – 18 September25 February – 18 September
Celosiafrom 2 Februaryfrom 19 Marchfrom 9 April
Chamomile——sow 28 January – 7 October
Chayote8 November – 16 June4 February – 12 September25 February – 12 September
Chickpea——sow 28 January – 23 August
Chicory13 December – 17 September—28 January – 12 October
Chili Pepper2 February – 29 July3 April – 27 September24 April – 27 September
China asterfrom 10 Februaryfrom 3 Aprilfrom 24 April
Chives——sow 28 January – 28 September
Cilantro——sow 28 January – 8 October
Corn——sow 25 February – 23 August
Corn poppy——sow from 28 January
Cosmosfrom 2 Februaryfrom 19 Marchfrom 9 April
Cucumber6 March – 29 August3 April – 26 September24 April – 26 September
Daikon——sow 28 January – 5 October
Delphiniumfrom 9 November—from 28 January
Dill——sow 28 January – 18 October
Edging lobeliafrom 3 December—from 25 February
Eggplant2 February – 22 June3 April – 21 August24 April – 21 August
Florence fennel21 December – 2 September4 February – 17 October25 February – 17 October
Foxglovefrom 22 October—from 28 January
Garden sorrel——sow 28 January – 6 October
Green Beans——sow 9 April – 31 August
Hollyhock——sow from 28 January
Hyssop——sow 28 January – 29 August
Kale——sow 28 January – 30 September
Kiwano6 February – 5 September10 March – 7 October31 March – 7 October
Kohlrabi——sow 28 January – 10 October
Leek29 October – 14 June7 January – 23 August28 January – 23 August
Lemon balm——sow 28 January – 2 October
Lettuce——sow 28 January – 15 October
Lisianthusfrom 12 Octoberfrom 7 Januaryfrom 28 January
Lovage——sow from 28 January
Luffa20 February – 30 June3 April – 11 August24 April – 11 August
Marigoldfrom 24 Decemberfrom 4 Februaryfrom 25 February
Marjoram2 February – 17 September—24 April – 16 November
Melon6 March – 16 August3 April – 13 September24 April – 13 September
Microgreens——sow 9 April – 27 November
Moringa11 February – 22 September7 April – 16 November28 April – 16 November
Moss rosefrom 10 December—from 25 February
Mustard greens——sow 28 January – 27 October
Napa cabbage2 January – 27 September4 February – 30 October25 February – 30 October
Nasturtiumfrom 28 Decemberfrom 4 Februaryfrom 25 February
Okra20 February – 10 September3 April – 22 October24 April – 22 October
Oregano8 November – 7 September7 January – 6 November28 January – 6 November
Pansyfrom 12 Novemberfrom 7 Januaryfrom 28 January
Parsley——sow 28 January – 26 September
Parsnip——sow 28 January – 15 August
Peanut25 February – 6 August3 April – 12 September24 April – 12 September
Peas——sow 28 January – 28 September
Petuniafrom 30 Januaryfrom 3 Aprilfrom 24 April
Physalis24 January – 3 August10 March – 17 September31 March – 17 September
Pumpkin20 February – 5 July3 April – 16 August24 April – 16 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 6 November—from 28 January
Radish——sow 28 January – 11 November
Sage19 November – 3 September7 January – 22 October28 January – 22 October
Scarlet sagefrom 17 January—from 31 March
Snapdragonfrom 3 Novemberfrom 7 Januaryfrom 28 January
Soybean——sow 24 April – 22 September
Spinach——sow 28 January – 17 October
Stevia20 January – 25 July10 March – 12 September31 March – 12 September
Stock——sow from 28 January
Sunflower——sow from 9 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 28 January
Sweet Corn1 February – 17 September23 February – 9 October16 March – 9 October
Sweet peafrom 26 Novemberfrom 7 Januaryfrom 28 January
Sweet William——sow from 28 January
Swiss Chard——sow 28 January – 12 October
Thyme——sow 28 January – 23 August
Tomato17 January – 30 June10 March – 21 August31 March – 21 August
Turnip——sow 28 January – 14 October
Watercress——sow 28 January – 25 October
Watermelon6 March – 4 August3 April – 1 September24 April – 1 September
Zinniafrom 3 Marchfrom 7 Aprilfrom 28 April
Zucchini13 March – 3 September3 April – 24 September24 April – 24 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 Sacramento?

The official USDA map (2023, 1991–2020 data) puts the centre of Sacramento (ZIP 95814) 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 Sacramento: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.

When the soil warms up in Sacramento

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 30 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 41 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C19 January30 days earlier
15 °C31 March41 days later
18 °C24 April65 days later

Frost dates near Sacramento

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Stockton (4 February) and latest in Carson City (1 May).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Stockton71 km4 February3 December
San Francisco121 km——
San Jose142 km24 February—
Carson City162 km1 May22 October
Reno179 km16 April28 October

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Sacramento

Within 15 km of Sacramento OpenStreetMap lists 5 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 1 plant nursery, 8 markets and 7 farm shops (collected 20 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is The Gifted Gardener, 1 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Sacramento

Frosts in Sacramento usually come from about 11 December to about 18 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 Sacramento by month

Average weather in Sacramento over 2016–2025: the warmest month is July. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: April–October (23.5–35.9 °C). Months that average 30 °C or more by day: June–September (33–35.9 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in December, average 4.8 °C. About 648 mm of rain falls in a year, on 60 days; January is the wettest month (130 mm) and July the driest (0 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January14.25.113010
February16.55.21128
March18.3710111
April23.59.4335
May28.612.4183
June33.615.130
July35.915.900
August35.516.410
September3315.5122
October26.912464
November18.57.2667
December13.64.812610

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 11 November
Crocusby 11 November
Daffodilby 11 November
Garlic11 November – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 11 November
Helleboreby 11 November
Hyacinthby 11 November
Lilyby 11 November
Ornamental onionby 11 November
Peonyby 11 November
Saffronby 11 November
Snowdropby 11 November
Tulipby 11 November
Wild garlicby 11 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).