When to plant in La Quinta, CA
USDA Zone 10aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in La Quinta, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A ~-4-day frost-free window makes La Quinta a short-season garden: choose early varieties and start long-season crops indoors well ahead of the last frost. In zone 10a, frost is a minor factor for La Quinta — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in La Quinta is now 10 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
INDIO FIRE STN · 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 La Quinta’s own odds, recorded at INDIO FIRE STN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jan 31 | Jan 1 | Dec 10 | Nov 30 | Dec 18 | Jan 7 |
| 32°F | Jan 21 | Dec 31 | Dec 10 | Dec 8 | Dec 27 | Jan 13 |
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 La Quinta, 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.
La Quinta planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in La Quinta, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in La Quinta around December 31 (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 La Quinta, CA?
In La Quinta, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 27 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is La Quinta in?
La Quinta is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in La Quinta?
La Quinta has about -4 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (December 31) and first fall frost (December 27).
When should I plant tomatoes in La Quinta?
For La Quinta, sow tomatoes indoors about November 5–November 19 and move the seedlings out around January 7, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in La Quinta
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to La Quinta’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Indio · 11 km
- Coachella · 13 km
- Palm Desert · 14 km
- Rancho Mirage · 20 km
- Cathedral City · 28 km
- Palm Springs · 30 km
- Desert Hot Springs · 43 km
- Yucca Valley · 55 km
Frost dates recorded at INDIO FIRE STN, 9 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 La Quinta, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00044259. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/la-quinta.