When to plant in Lakewood, CA
USDA Zone 10aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Lakewood, California — all computed from Lakewood's nearest NOAA weather station.
With only about -4 frost-free days, Lakewood has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 21 km from Lakewood, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 10a is warm enough that Lakewood can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
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 Lakewood’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 Lakewood, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 34 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.
Lakewood planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lakewood, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lakewood around January 9 (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 Lakewood, CA?
Expect Lakewood's first fall frost near January 5 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Lakewood in?
Lakewood is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Lakewood?
There are roughly -4 frost-free days in Lakewood (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 9 to the first fall frost near January 5.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lakewood?
In Lakewood, start tomato seeds indoors around November 14–November 28, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 16 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Lakewood
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lakewood’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Artesia · 4 km
- Bellflower · 5 km
- Hawaiian Gardens · 5 km
- Cerritos · 5 km
- Signal Hill · 7 km
- Paramount · 7 km
- Rossmoor · 8 km
- Norwalk · 8 km
Frost dates recorded at TORRANCE AP, 21 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 Lakewood, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00003122. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/lakewood.