When to plant in Elk Grove, CA
USDA Zone 9bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Elk Grove, California — all computed from Elk Grove's nearest NOAA weather station.
Elk Grove enjoys a long ~303-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Elk Grove — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Elk Grove is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AP · 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 Elk Grove’s own odds, recorded at SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 10 | Mar 14 | Feb 13 | Nov 4 | Nov 18 | Dec 3 |
| 32°F | Mar 5 | Feb 2 | Jan 2 | Nov 16 | Dec 2 | Jan 2 |
| 28°F | Feb 1 | Jan 4 | Dec 12 | Nov 30 | Dec 16 | Jan 14 |
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 Elk Grove, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 35 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.
Elk Grove planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Elk Grove, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Elk Grove around February 2 (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 Elk Grove, CA?
Expect Elk Grove's first fall frost near December 2 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Elk Grove in?
Elk Grove is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Elk Grove?
Elk Grove has about 303 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 2) and first fall frost (December 2).
When should I plant tomatoes in Elk Grove?
For Elk Grove, sow tomatoes indoors about December 8–December 22 and move the seedlings out around February 9, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Elk Grove
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Elk Grove’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Florin · 8 km
- Vineyard · 8 km
- Parkway · 11 km
- Lemon Hill · 13 km
- Rosemont · 15 km
- La Riviera · 17 km
- Galt · 18 km
- Sacramento · 18 km
Frost dates recorded at SACRAMENTO EXECUTIVE AP, 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 Elk Grove, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00023232. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/elk-grove.