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When to plant in Chino, CA

USDA Zone 10a

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

A generous ~336-day season lets Chino gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 10a is warm enough that Chino can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.

Station · CHINO AP · 2.9 km
Last spring frost
January 17
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
December 19
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
336 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for ChinoA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Chino: last spring frost around January 17, first fall frost around December 19, about 336 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average last spring frost in Chino is now 19 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

CHINO 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 Chino’s own odds, recorded at CHINO AP.

Frost-probability curves for ChinoProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around January 17 and the first fall frost around December 19, giving about 336 frost-free days.
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 29Feb 24Jan 21Nov 12Dec 1Dec 18
32°FFeb 22Jan 17Dec 18Nov 27Dec 19Jan 17
28°FJan 28Jan 3Dec 11Dec 7Dec 30Jan 23

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 Chino, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 15 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.

CHINO AP
Primary
3 km · 198 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 17
FALL
Dec 19
ONTARIO INTL AP
11 km · 289 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 4
FALL
Dec 30
POMONA/FAIRPLEX
15 km · 305 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 8
FALL
Dec 28

Chino planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Chino, CA?

Plan for the last spring frost in Chino around January 17 (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 Chino, CA?

The first fall frost in Chino typically arrives around December 19 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.

What hardiness zone is Chino in?

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

How long is the growing season in Chino?

There are roughly 336 frost-free days in Chino (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 17 to the first fall frost near December 19.

When should I plant tomatoes in Chino?

In Chino, start tomato seeds indoors around November 22–December 6, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 24 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Chino

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

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at CHINO AP, 3 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 Chino, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003179. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/chino.