When to plant in Coachella, CA
USDA Zone 10aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Coachella, California — all computed from Coachella's nearest NOAA weather station.
A ~-4-day frost-free window makes Coachella a short-season garden: choose early varieties and start long-season crops indoors well ahead of the last frost. Zone 10a is warm enough that Coachella can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Coachella is now 10 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
INDIO FIRE STN · 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 Coachella’s own odds, recorded at INDIO FIRE STN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jan 31 | Jan 1 | Dec 10 | Nov 30 | Dec 18 | Jan 7 |
| 32°F | Jan 21 | Dec 31 | Dec 10 | Dec 8 | Dec 27 | Jan 13 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 20Nothing 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 Coachella, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 15 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.
Coachella planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Coachella, CA?
On average, the last spring frost in Coachella is around December 31 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Coachella, CA?
The first fall frost in Coachella typically arrives around December 27 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Coachella in?
Coachella is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Coachella?
There are roughly -4 frost-free days in Coachella (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around December 31 to the first fall frost near December 27.
When should I plant tomatoes in Coachella?
In Coachella, start tomato seeds indoors around November 5–November 19, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 7 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Coachella
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Coachella’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Indio · 10 km
- La Quinta · 13 km
- Palm Desert · 21 km
- Rancho Mirage · 28 km
- Cathedral City · 34 km
- Palm Springs · 39 km
- Desert Hot Springs · 47 km
- Twentynine Palms · 51 km
Frost dates recorded at INDIO FIRE STN, 7 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 Coachella, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00044259. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/coachella.