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When to plant in Carson, CA

USDA Zone 10b

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Carson, California — all computed from Carson's nearest NOAA weather station.

Carson's growing season is short at roughly -4 days, so succession planting is limited; lean on transplants over direct sowing for anything slow to mature. In zone 10b, frost is a minor factor for Carson — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.

Station · TORRANCE AP · 9.5 km
Last spring frost
January 9
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
January 5
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
-4 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for CarsonA year-band from January to December for Carson: Carson is effectively frost-free at 32°F — no distinct frost season.
Carson is effectively frost-free at 32°F — no distinct frost season.

Frost probability

TORRANCE AP · 1991–2020

The 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 Carson’s own odds, recorded at TORRANCE AP.

Frost-probability curves for CarsonProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around January 9 and the first fall frost around January 5, where a 32°F freeze is rare enough that there is effectively no distinct frost season.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMar 5Jan 17Dec 12Dec 1Dec 31Feb 20
32°FFeb 24Jan 9Dec 4Dec 3Jan 5Feb 22

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19

Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.

Add the next planting windows to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Carson, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 36 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

TORRANCE AP
Primary
9 km · 27 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 9
FALL
Jan 5
SAN GABRIEL FIRE DEPT
30 km · 111 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 4
FALL
Jan 2
PASADENA
36 km · 263 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 8
FALL
Jan 7

Carson planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Carson, CA?

Carson's average last spring frost falls near January 9 — 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 Carson, CA?

The first fall frost in Carson typically arrives around January 5 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Carson in?

Carson is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. In zone 10b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Carson?

Carson has about -4 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 9) and first fall frost (January 5).

When should I plant tomatoes in Carson?

For Carson, sow tomatoes indoors about November 14–November 28 and move the seedlings out around January 16, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Carson

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Carson’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at TORRANCE AP, 9 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Carson, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003122. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/carson.
When to Plant in Carson, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10b — BlissGarden