When to plant in Chico, CA
USDA Zone 9bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Chico, California — all computed from Chico's nearest NOAA weather station.
A generous ~258-day season lets Chico gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 9b is warm enough that Chico can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Chico is now 9 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CHICO UNIV FARM · 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 Chico’s own odds, recorded at CHICO UNIV FARM.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 21 | Apr 5 | Mar 13 | Oct 21 | Nov 4 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F | Apr 2 | Mar 4 | Feb 8 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 | Dec 5 |
| 28°F | Mar 1 | Feb 5 | Jan 1 | Nov 13 | Dec 3 | Jan 5 |
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 Chico, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 22 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.
Chico planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Chico, CA?
Chico's average last spring frost falls near March 4 — 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 Chico, CA?
The first fall frost in Chico typically arrives around November 17 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Chico in?
Chico is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Chico?
There are roughly 258 frost-free days in Chico (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 4 to the first fall frost near November 17.
When should I plant tomatoes in Chico?
In Chico, start tomato seeds indoors around January 7–January 21, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 11 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Chico
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Chico’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Oroville · 37 km
- Red Bluff · 59 km
- Marysville · 70 km
- Yuba City · 72 km
- Linda · 74 km
- Olivehurst · 79 km
- Anderson · 87 km
- Grass Valley · 89 km
Frost dates recorded at CHICO UNIV FARM, 8 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 Chico, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00041715. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/chico.