When to plant in Hanford, CA
USDA Zone 9aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Hanford, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With about 297 frost-free days, Hanford supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Zone 9a is warm enough that Hanford can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Hanford is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
HANFORD 1 S · 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 Hanford’s own odds, recorded at HANFORD 1 S.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 10 | Mar 3 | Feb 9 | Nov 1 | Nov 17 | Dec 1 |
| 32°F | Mar 4 | Feb 7 | Jan 9 | Nov 16 | Dec 1 | Dec 22 |
| 28°F | Feb 9 | Jan 12 | Dec 16 | Nov 28 | Dec 14 | Jan 13 |
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 Hanford, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 26 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.
Hanford planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Hanford, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Hanford around February 7 (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 Hanford, CA?
The first fall frost in Hanford typically arrives around December 1 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Hanford in?
Hanford is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Hanford?
There are roughly 297 frost-free days in Hanford (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 7 to the first fall frost near December 1.
When should I plant tomatoes in Hanford?
In Hanford, start tomato seeds indoors around December 13–December 27, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 14 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Hanford
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hanford’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at HANFORD 1 S, 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 Hanford, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00043747. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/hanford.