When to plant in Desert Hot Springs, CA
USDA Zone 10aDesert Hot Springs, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
A generous ~293-day season lets Desert Hot Springs gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 10a is warm enough that Desert Hot Springs can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
MORONGO VALLEY N · 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 Desert Hot Springs’s own odds, recorded at MORONGO VALLEY N.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 29 | Mar 31 | Feb 20 | Nov 7 | Dec 1 | Dec 16 |
| 32°F | Apr 3 | Feb 25 | Jan 7 | Nov 23 | Dec 15 | Jan 16 |
| 28°F | Feb 28 | Jan 25 | Dec 20 | Dec 8 | Jan 6 | Feb 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 Desert Hot Springs, 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.
Desert Hot Springs planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Desert Hot Springs, CA?
Desert Hot Springs's average last spring frost falls near February 25 — 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 Desert Hot Springs, CA?
In Desert Hot Springs, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 15 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Desert Hot Springs in?
Desert Hot Springs is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Desert Hot Springs?
There are roughly 293 frost-free days in Desert Hot Springs (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 25 to the first fall frost near December 15.
When should I plant tomatoes in Desert Hot Springs?
In Desert Hot Springs, start tomato seeds indoors around December 31–January 14, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 4 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Desert Hot Springs
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Desert Hot Springs’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Cathedral City · 15 km
- Palm Springs · 17 km
- Yucca Valley · 22 km
- Rancho Mirage · 24 km
- Palm Desert · 29 km
- Banning · 33 km
- Indio · 38 km
- Beaumont · 39 km
Frost dates recorded at MORONGO VALLEY N, 14 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 Desert Hot Springs, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00045860. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/desert-hot-springs.