Greenly Garden
Get the app
EN

Last and first frost dates in Santa Barbara

United States

In Santa Barbara the last spring frost usually comes around 15 March and the first autumn frost around 15 December, which leaves about 275 frost-free days (median of 2016–2025). Tomato seedlings can go into open ground from 11 April to 25 August.

Last spring frostaround 15 March
First autumn frostaround 15 December
Frost-free days275 days

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 Santa Barbara?

The last frost in Santa Barbara usually comes around 15 March: 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 22 February, while corn waits until 22 March. The first autumn frost follows around 15 December, about 275 days later: harvest or cover frost-tender crops before then.

When to sow and plant

CropSow for seedlingsPlant out in a greenhouseOpen ground
Achocha20 January – 6 September1 March – 16 October22 March – 16 October
Ageratumfrom 24 January—from 11 April
Arugula——sow 22 February – 10 November
Basil16 March – 13 October23 April – 20 November14 May – 20 November
Beet——sow 22 February – 16 October
Bell Pepper22 February – 26 June23 April – 25 August14 May – 25 August
Black-eyed Susanfrom 29 December—from 22 March
Bok Choy25 January – 24 October1 March – 28 November22 March – 28 November
Borage——sow 22 March – 21 October
Broad bean——sow 22 February – 6 September
Broccoli——sow 22 February – 30 August
Brussels Sprouts18 December – 28 July1 February – 11 September22 February – 11 September
Busy Lizziefrom 28 December—from 22 March
Cabbage——sow 22 February – 7 August
Calendula——sow from 22 February
Carrot——sow 22 February – 22 September
Cauliflower21 December – 30 August1 February – 11 October22 February – 11 October
Celeriac14 December – 27 June1 March – 12 September22 March – 12 September
Celery14 December – 7 July1 March – 22 September22 March – 22 September
Celosiafrom 17 Februaryfrom 3 Aprilfrom 24 April
Chamomile——sow 22 February – 11 October
Chayote3 December – 20 June1 March – 16 September22 March – 16 September
Chickpea——sow 22 February – 27 August
Chicory7 January – 21 September—22 February – 16 October
Chili Pepper22 February – 2 August23 April – 1 October14 May – 1 October
China asterfrom 2 Marchfrom 23 Aprilfrom 14 May
Chives——sow 22 February – 2 October
Cilantro——sow 22 February – 12 October
Corn——sow 22 March – 27 August
Corn poppy——sow from 22 February
Cosmosfrom 17 Februaryfrom 3 Aprilfrom 24 April
Cucumber26 March – 2 September23 April – 30 September14 May – 30 September
Daikon——sow 22 February – 9 October
Delphiniumfrom 4 December—from 22 February
Dill——sow 22 February – 22 October
Edging lobeliafrom 28 December—from 22 March
Eggplant22 February – 26 June23 April – 25 August14 May – 25 August
Florence fennel15 January – 6 September1 March – 21 October22 March – 21 October
Foxglovefrom 16 November—from 22 February
Garden sorrel——sow 22 February – 10 October
Green Beans——sow 24 April – 4 September
Hollyhock——sow from 22 February
Hyssop——sow 22 February – 2 September
Kale——sow 22 February – 4 October
Kiwano17 February – 9 September21 March – 11 October11 April – 11 October
Kohlrabi——sow 22 February – 14 October
Leek23 November – 18 June1 February – 27 August22 February – 27 August
Lemon balm——sow 22 February – 6 October
Lettuce——sow 22 February – 19 October
Lisianthusfrom 6 Novemberfrom 1 Februaryfrom 22 February
Lovage——sow from 22 February
Luffa12 March – 4 July23 April – 15 August14 May – 15 August
Marigoldfrom 18 Januaryfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Marjoram22 February – 21 September—14 May – 20 November
Melon26 March – 20 August23 April – 17 September14 May – 17 September
Microgreens——sow 24 April – 1 December
Moringa20 March – 26 September14 May – 20 November4 June – 20 November
Moss rosefrom 4 January—from 22 March
Mustard greens——sow 22 February – 31 October
Napa cabbage27 January – 1 October1 March – 3 November22 March – 3 November
Nasturtiumfrom 22 Januaryfrom 1 Marchfrom 22 March
Okra12 March – 14 September23 April – 26 October14 May – 26 October
Oregano3 December – 11 September1 February – 10 November22 February – 10 November
Pansyfrom 7 Decemberfrom 1 Februaryfrom 22 February
Parsley——sow 22 February – 30 September
Parsnip——sow 22 February – 19 August
Peanut17 March – 10 August23 April – 16 September14 May – 16 September
Peas——sow 22 February – 2 October
Petuniafrom 19 Februaryfrom 23 Aprilfrom 14 May
Physalis4 February – 7 August21 March – 21 September11 April – 21 September
Pumpkin12 March – 9 July23 April – 20 August14 May – 20 August
Purple coneflowerfrom 1 December—from 22 February
Radish——sow 22 February – 15 November
Sage14 December – 7 September1 February – 26 October22 February – 26 October
Scarlet sagefrom 28 January—from 11 April
Snapdragonfrom 28 Novemberfrom 1 Februaryfrom 22 February
Soybean——sow 14 May – 26 September
Spinach——sow 22 February – 21 October
Stevia31 January – 29 July21 March – 16 September11 April – 16 September
Stock——sow from 22 February
Sunflower——sow from 24 April
Sweet alyssum——sow from 22 February
Sweet Corn7 February – 21 September1 March – 13 October22 March – 13 October
Sweet peafrom 21 Decemberfrom 1 Februaryfrom 22 February
Sweet William——sow from 22 February
Swiss Chard——sow 22 February – 16 October
Thyme——sow 22 February – 27 August
Tomato28 January – 4 July21 March – 25 August11 April – 25 August
Turnip——sow 22 February – 18 October
Watercress——sow 22 February – 29 October
Watermelon26 March – 8 August23 April – 5 September14 May – 5 September
Zinniafrom 9 Aprilfrom 14 Mayfrom 4 June
Zucchini2 April – 7 September23 April – 28 September14 May – 28 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.

When the soil warms up in Santa Barbara

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 46 days before the last spring frost and 15 °C 27 days after it.

SoilDateAgainst the last spring frost
5 °Calready in the first week of January—
10 °C28 January46 days earlier
15 °C11 April27 days later
18 °C14 May60 days later

Frost dates near Santa Barbara

Of the nearest cities on our list, the last spring frost ends earliest in Riverside (12 January) and latest in Bakersfield (16 February).

CityDistanceLast spring frostFirst autumn frost
Bakersfield122 km16 February14 December
Los Angeles140 km——
Riverside218 km12 January19 December
Fresno259 km5 February5 December
San Diego302 km——

Seeds, seedlings and markets in Santa Barbara

Within 15 km of Santa Barbara OpenStreetMap lists 4 garden centres, 1 farm-supply shop, 2 plant nurseries, 1 market and 1 farm shop (collected 28 October 2026). The nearest garden centre to the city centre is 7 Day Nursery, 4 km away.

Places: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL.

What to grow at home in winter in Santa Barbara

Frosts in Santa Barbara usually come from about 15 December to about 15 March. 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 Santa Barbara by month

Average weather in Santa Barbara over 2016–2025: the warmest month is August. Months that average 20 °C or more by day: May–October (21.2–29.1 °C). No month averages below 0 °C at night; the coldest nights, in February, average 3.7 °C. About 626 mm of rain falls in a year, on 42 days; January is the wettest month (146 mm) and July the driest (0 mm).

MonthDay, °CNight, °CRain, mmRainy days
January14.73.91467
February15.33.71196
March15.74.61259
April19.67.5293
May21.29.4132
June25.713.831
July28.81700
August29.117.131
September26.815102
October23.711.3201
November197.1464
December15.74.91126

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 15 November
Crocusby 15 November
Daffodilby 15 November
Garlic15 November – end of December
Grape hyacinthby 15 November
Helleboreby 15 November
Hyacinthby 15 November
Lilyby 15 November
Ornamental onionby 15 November
Peonyby 15 November
Saffronby 15 November
Snowdropby 15 November
Tulipby 15 November
Wild garlicby 15 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).