When to plant in Gilroy, CA
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Gilroy, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A generous ~276-day season lets Gilroy gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Gilroy — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Gilroy is now 9 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
GILROY · 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 Gilroy’s own odds, recorded at GILROY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 1 | Apr 4 | Mar 4 | Oct 20 | Nov 10 | Nov 29 |
| 32°F | Apr 4 | Feb 24 | Jan 23 | Nov 10 | Nov 27 | Dec 18 |
| 28°F | Feb 19 | Jan 16 | Dec 22 | Nov 24 | Dec 12 | 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 Gilroy, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 20 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.
Gilroy planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Gilroy, CA?
Gilroy's average last spring frost falls near February 24 — 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 Gilroy, CA?
The first fall frost in Gilroy typically arrives around November 27 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Gilroy in?
Gilroy is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Gilroy?
Gilroy has about 276 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 24) and first fall frost (November 27).
When should I plant tomatoes in Gilroy?
For Gilroy, sow tomatoes indoors about December 30–January 13 and move the seedlings out around March 3, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Gilroy
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Gilroy’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Morgan Hill · 15 km
- Watsonville · 19 km
- Prunedale · 23 km
- Hollister · 24 km
- Soquel · 32 km
- Live Oak · 35 km
- Salinas · 35 km
- San Jose · 38 km
Frost dates recorded at GILROY, 2 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 Gilroy, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00043417. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/gilroy.