When to plant in Eureka, CA
USDA Zone 9bEureka, 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 ~288-day season lets Eureka gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 9b is warm enough that Eureka can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Eureka is now 7 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
EUREKA WFO WOODLEY ISLAND · 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 Eureka’s own odds, recorded at EUREKA WFO WOODLEY ISLAND.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 22 | Apr 1 | Mar 1 | Oct 25 | Nov 12 | Dec 4 |
| 32°F | Mar 23 | Feb 22 | Dec 31 | Nov 15 | Dec 7 | Jan 11 |
| 28°F | Feb 8 | Jan 3 | Dec 11 | Dec 3 | Dec 25 | Jan 29 |
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 Eureka, 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.
Eureka planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Eureka, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Eureka around February 22 (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 Eureka, CA?
In Eureka, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 7 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Eureka in?
Eureka is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Eureka?
There are roughly 288 frost-free days in Eureka (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 22 to the first fall frost near December 7.
When should I plant tomatoes in Eureka?
In Eureka, start tomato seeds indoors around December 28–January 11, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 1 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Eureka
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Eureka’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Arcata · 10 km
- McKinleyville · 18 km
- Fortuna · 23 km
- Shasta Lake · 150 km
- Redding · 153 km
- Anderson · 162 km
- Red Bluff · 176 km
- Grants Pass · 194 km
Frost dates recorded at EUREKA WFO WOODLEY ISLAND, 1 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 Eureka, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00024213. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/eureka.