When to plant in Barstow, CA
USDA Zone 9aBarstow, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Barstow enjoys a long ~274-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Zone 9a is warm enough that Barstow can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Barstow is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
BARSTOW · 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 Barstow’s own odds, recorded at BARSTOW.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 14 | Mar 17 | Feb 24 | Oct 31 | Nov 12 | Nov 26 |
| 32°F | Mar 24 | Feb 22 | Jan 29 | Nov 9 | Nov 23 | Dec 8 |
| 28°F | Feb 25 | Jan 30 | Jan 2 | Nov 18 | Dec 6 | Dec 28 |
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 Barstow, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 44 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.
Barstow planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Barstow, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Barstow around February 22 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Barstow, CA?
The first fall frost in Barstow typically arrives around November 23 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Barstow in?
Barstow is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Barstow?
There are roughly 274 frost-free days in Barstow (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 22 to the first fall frost near November 23.
When should I plant tomatoes in Barstow?
In Barstow, start tomato seeds indoors around December 28–January 11, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Barstow
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Barstow’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Apple Valley · 40 km
- Victorville · 47 km
- Adelanto · 48 km
- Hesperia · 58 km
- Phelan · 65 km
- Lake Arrowhead · 69 km
- Big Bear City · 72 km
- Lake Los Angeles · 77 km
Frost dates recorded at BARSTOW, 3 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 Barstow, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00040521. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/barstow.