When to plant in Cathedral City, CA
USDA Zone 10aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Cathedral City, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With only about 0 frost-free days, Cathedral City has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Zone 10a is warm enough that Cathedral City can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Cathedral City is now 9 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
PALM SPRINGS RGNL AP · 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 Cathedral City’s own odds, recorded at PALM SPRINGS RGNL AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 13 | Jan 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 7 | Dec 29 | Jan 29 |
| 32°F | Jan 29 | Jan 9 | Dec 29 | Dec 23 | Jan 9 | 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 Cathedral City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Cathedral City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cathedral City, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Cathedral City around January 9 (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 Cathedral City, CA?
The first fall frost in Cathedral City typically arrives around January 9 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Cathedral City in?
Cathedral City is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Cathedral City?
There are roughly 0 frost-free days in Cathedral City (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 9 to the first fall frost near January 9.
When should I plant tomatoes in Cathedral City?
In Cathedral City, start tomato seeds indoors around November 14–November 28, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 16 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Cathedral City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cathedral City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Palm Springs · 8 km
- Rancho Mirage · 9 km
- Palm Desert · 14 km
- Desert Hot Springs · 15 km
- Indio · 24 km
- La Quinta · 28 km
- Yucca Valley · 32 km
- Coachella · 34 km
Frost dates recorded at PALM SPRINGS RGNL AP, 4 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 Cathedral City, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093138. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/cathedral-city.