When to plant in Berkeley, CA
USDA Zone 10aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Berkeley, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With only about -2 frost-free days, Berkeley has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. In zone 10a, frost is a minor factor for Berkeley — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
Frost probability
BERKELEY · 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 Berkeley’s own odds, recorded at BERKELEY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 20 | Feb 5 | Dec 29 | Nov 27 | Dec 19 | Jan 26 |
| 32°F | Feb 14 | Jan 3 | Dec 14 | Dec 10 | Jan 1 | Jan 29 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.
Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Berkeley, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 17 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.
Berkeley planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Berkeley, CA?
Berkeley's average last spring frost falls near January 3 — 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 Berkeley, CA?
The first fall frost in Berkeley typically arrives around January 1 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Berkeley in?
Berkeley is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Berkeley?
Berkeley has about -2 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 3) and first fall frost (January 1).
When should I plant tomatoes in Berkeley?
For Berkeley, sow tomatoes indoors about November 8–November 22 and move the seedlings out around January 10, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Berkeley
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Berkeley’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Emeryville · 3 km
- Albany · 3 km
- El Cerrito · 6 km
- Piedmont · 8 km
- Richmond · 11 km
- San Pablo · 11 km
- Orinda · 12 km
- El Sobrante · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at BERKELEY, 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 Berkeley, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00040693. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/berkeley.