When to plant in Hawthorne, CA
USDA Zone 10bHawthorne, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
With only about -4 frost-free days, Hawthorne has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. In zone 10b, frost is a minor factor for Hawthorne — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
Frost probability
TORRANCE 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 Hawthorne’s own odds, recorded at TORRANCE AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 5 | Jan 17 | Dec 12 | Dec 1 | Dec 31 | Feb 20 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Jan 9 | Dec 4 | Dec 3 | Jan 5 | Feb 22 |
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 Hawthorne, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 30 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.
Hawthorne planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Hawthorne, CA?
On average, the last spring frost in Hawthorne is around January 9 (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 Hawthorne, CA?
The first fall frost in Hawthorne typically arrives around January 5 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Hawthorne in?
Hawthorne is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. In zone 10b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Hawthorne?
Hawthorne has about -4 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 9) and first fall frost (January 5).
When should I plant tomatoes in Hawthorne?
For Hawthorne, sow tomatoes indoors about November 14–November 28 and move the seedlings out around January 16, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Hawthorne
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Hawthorne’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Del Aire · 2 km
- Lennox · 3 km
- Lawndale · 3 km
- Gardena · 4 km
- Inglewood · 5 km
- Westmont · 5 km
- Manhattan Beach · 7 km
- El Segundo · 7 km
Frost dates recorded at TORRANCE AP, 13 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 Hawthorne, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003122. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/hawthorne.