When to plant in Fortuna, CA
USDA Zone 9bFortuna, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With about 321 frost-free days, Fortuna supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Fortuna — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Fortuna is now 8 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SCOTIA · 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 Fortuna’s own odds, recorded at SCOTIA.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 9 | Mar 14 | Feb 1 | Nov 1 | Nov 23 | Dec 23 |
| 32°F | Mar 8 | Feb 1 | Dec 17 | Nov 19 | Dec 19 | Feb 10 |
| 28°F | Jan 31 | Jan 3 | Dec 15 | Dec 7 | Dec 31 | Jan 28 |
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 Fortuna, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 25 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.
Fortuna planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Fortuna, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Fortuna around February 1 (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 Fortuna, CA?
In Fortuna, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 19 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Fortuna in?
Fortuna is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Fortuna?
Fortuna has about 321 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 1) and first fall frost (December 19).
When should I plant tomatoes in Fortuna?
For Fortuna, sow tomatoes indoors about December 7–December 21 and move the seedlings out around February 8, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Fortuna
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Fortuna’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Eureka · 23 km
- Arcata · 31 km
- McKinleyville · 41 km
- Shasta Lake · 149 km
- Redding · 150 km
- Anderson · 157 km
- Red Bluff · 167 km
- Ukiah · 179 km
Frost dates recorded at SCOTIA, 12 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 Fortuna, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00048045. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/fortuna.