When to plant in Avenal, CA
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Avenal, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A generous ~283-day season lets Avenal gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Avenal — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
Frost probability
KETTLEMAN CITY · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Avenal’s own odds, recorded at KETTLEMAN CITY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 8 | Mar 17 | Feb 20 | Oct 31 | Nov 15 | Nov 30 |
| 32°F | Mar 15 | Feb 19 | Jan 21 | Nov 14 | Nov 29 | Dec 17 |
| 28°F | Feb 23 | Jan 24 | Dec 26 | Nov 25 | Dec 12 | Jan 15 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Avenal, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 37 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Avenal planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Avenal, CA?
Avenal's average last spring frost falls near February 19 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Avenal, CA?
In Avenal, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 29 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Avenal in?
Avenal is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Avenal?
Avenal has about 283 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 19) and first fall frost (November 29).
When should I plant tomatoes in Avenal?
For Avenal, sow tomatoes indoors about December 25–January 8 and move the seedlings out around February 26, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Avenal
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Avenal’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at KETTLEMAN CITY, 14 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Avenal, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00044534. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/avenal.