When to plant in Goleta, CA
USDA Zone 10aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Goleta, California — all computed from Goleta's nearest NOAA weather station.
With about 339 frost-free days, Goleta supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Zone 10a is warm enough that Goleta can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Goleta is now 10 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SANTA BARBARA MUNI 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 Goleta’s own odds, recorded at SANTA BARBARA MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 17 | Feb 13 | Jan 9 | Nov 11 | Dec 1 | Dec 20 |
| 32°F | Feb 13 | Jan 11 | Dec 14 | Dec 1 | Dec 16 | Jan 18 |
| 28°F | Jan 18 | Dec 30 | Dec 8 | Dec 7 | Dec 26 | Jan 12 |
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 Goleta, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 16 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.
Goleta planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Goleta, CA?
Goleta's average last spring frost falls near January 11 — 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 Goleta, CA?
Expect Goleta's first fall frost near December 16 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Goleta in?
Goleta is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Goleta?
There are roughly 339 frost-free days in Goleta (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 11 to the first fall frost near December 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in Goleta?
In Goleta, start tomato seeds indoors around November 16–November 30, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 18 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Goleta
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Goleta’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- University of California-Santa Barbara · 2 km
- Isla Vista · 3 km
- Eastern Goleta Valley · 7 km
- Santa Barbara · 14 km
- Carpinteria · 33 km
- San Buenaventura (Ventura) · 59 km
- Lompoc · 61 km
- Oxnard · 65 km
Frost dates recorded at SANTA BARBARA MUNI AP, 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 Goleta, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00023190. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/goleta.