When to plant in French Valley, CA
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in French Valley, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A ~-3-day frost-free window makes French Valley a short-season garden: choose early varieties and start long-season crops indoors well ahead of the last frost. These dates come from a station roughly 19 km away, the closest with full normals; terrain around French Valley (elevation, water, pavement) can move your real frost dates a few days either way. Zone 9b is warm enough that French Valley can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
FALLBROOK 5 NE · 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 French Valley’s own odds, recorded at FALLBROOK 5 NE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 6 | Feb 7 | Dec 21 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 | Feb 17 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Feb 2 | Dec 26 | Dec 23 | Jan 30 | Feb 24 |
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 French Valley, 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.
French Valley planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in French Valley, CA?
On average, the last spring frost in French Valley is around February 2 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in French Valley, CA?
Expect French Valley's first fall frost near January 30 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is French Valley in?
French Valley is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in French Valley?
There are roughly -3 frost-free days in French Valley (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around February 2 to the first fall frost near January 30.
When should I plant tomatoes in French Valley?
In French Valley, start tomato seeds indoors around December 8–December 22, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 9 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in French Valley
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to French Valley’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Murrieta · 8 km
- Temecula · 12 km
- Menifee · 12 km
- Wildomar · 14 km
- Canyon Lake · 18 km
- Hemet · 18 km
- East Hemet · 21 km
- Lake Elsinore · 23 km
Frost dates recorded at FALLBROOK 5 NE, 19 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 French Valley, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00053151. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/french-valley.