When to plant in King City, CA
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for King City, California — all computed from King City's nearest NOAA weather station.
A generous ~272-day season lets King City gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for King City — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in King City is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
KING CITY · 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 King City’s own odds, recorded at KING CITY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 29 | Apr 7 | Mar 5 | Oct 17 | Nov 4 | Nov 22 |
| 32°F | Mar 31 | Feb 23 | Jan 19 | Nov 1 | Nov 22 | Dec 11 |
| 28°F | Feb 21 | Jan 22 | Dec 18 | Nov 19 | Dec 6 | Jan 10 |
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 King City, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 39 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.
King City planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in King City, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in King City around February 23 (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 King City, CA?
The first fall frost in King City typically arrives around November 22 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is King City in?
King City is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in King City?
King City has about 272 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 23) and first fall frost (November 22).
When should I plant tomatoes in King City?
For King City, sow tomatoes indoors about December 29–January 12 and move the seedlings out around March 2, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in King City
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to King City’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Greenfield · 16 km
- Soledad · 29 km
- Salinas · 69 km
- Coalinga · 72 km
- Hollister · 75 km
- Seaside · 76 km
- Marina · 78 km
- El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles) · 78 km
Frost dates recorded at KING CITY, 1 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 King City, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00044555. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/king-city.