When to plant in Davis, CA
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Davis, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A generous ~294-day season lets Davis gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Davis — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Davis is now 8 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
DAVIS 2 WSW EXP 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 Davis’s own odds, recorded at DAVIS 2 WSW EXP FARM.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 16 | Mar 22 | Feb 22 | Nov 1 | Nov 16 | Dec 1 |
| 32°F | Mar 11 | Feb 10 | Dec 31 | Nov 13 | Dec 1 | Dec 27 |
| 28°F | Feb 8 | Jan 6 | Dec 14 | Nov 29 | Dec 18 | Jan 18 |
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 Davis, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 20 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.
Davis planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Davis, CA?
Davis's average last spring frost falls near February 10 — 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 Davis, CA?
In Davis, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 1 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Davis in?
Davis is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Davis?
Davis has about 294 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 10) and first fall frost (December 1).
When should I plant tomatoes in Davis?
For Davis, sow tomatoes indoors about December 16–December 30 and move the seedlings out around February 17, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Davis
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Davis’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Woodland · 13 km
- Dixon · 14 km
- West Sacramento · 16 km
- Sacramento · 23 km
- Lemon Hill · 25 km
- Parkway · 26 km
- Rio Linda · 30 km
- Vacaville · 30 km
Frost dates recorded at DAVIS 2 WSW EXP FARM, 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 Davis, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00042294. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/davis.