When to plant in Citrus Heights, CA
USDA Zone 9bCitrus Heights, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With about 338 frost-free days, Citrus Heights supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Citrus Heights's nearest full-normals station sits about 19 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. Zone 9b is warm enough that Citrus Heights can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Citrus Heights is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SACRAMENTO 5 ESE · 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 Citrus Heights’s own odds, recorded at SACRAMENTO 5 ESE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 11 | Feb 12 | Jan 9 | Nov 15 | Dec 1 | Dec 29 |
| 32°F | Feb 8 | Jan 12 | Dec 18 | Nov 28 | Dec 16 | Jan 14 |
| 28°F | Jan 22 | Dec 31 | Dec 13 | Dec 5 | Dec 25 | Jan 14 |
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 Citrus Heights, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 28 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.
Citrus Heights planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Citrus Heights, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Citrus Heights around January 12 (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 Citrus Heights, CA?
In Citrus Heights, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 16 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Citrus Heights in?
Citrus Heights is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Citrus Heights?
There are roughly 338 frost-free days in Citrus Heights (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 12 to the first fall frost near December 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in Citrus Heights?
In Citrus Heights, start tomato seeds indoors around November 17–December 1, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 19 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Citrus Heights
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Citrus Heights’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Foothill Farms · 5 km
- Orangevale · 6 km
- Fair Oaks · 6 km
- Antelope · 7 km
- North Highlands · 8 km
- Carmichael · 8 km
- Roseville · 9 km
- Granite Bay · 13 km
Frost dates recorded at SACRAMENTO 5 ESE, 19 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 Citrus Heights, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00023271. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/citrus-heights.