When to plant in Lemon Grove, CA
USDA Zone 10bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Lemon Grove, California — all computed from Lemon Grove's nearest NOAA weather station.
A generous ~349-day season lets Lemon Grove gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 10b, frost is a minor factor for Lemon Grove — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Lemon Grove is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
EL CAJON · 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 Lemon Grove’s own odds, recorded at EL CAJON.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 3 | Feb 6 | Jan 6 | Nov 18 | Dec 6 | Dec 29 |
| 32°F | Feb 7 | Jan 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 1 | Dec 21 | Jan 15 |
| 28°F | Jan 15 | Dec 31 | Dec 8 | Dec 7 | Dec 30 | Jan 14 |
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 Lemon Grove, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 27 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.
Lemon Grove planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lemon Grove, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lemon Grove around January 6 (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 Lemon Grove, CA?
In Lemon Grove, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 21 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Lemon Grove in?
Lemon Grove is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. In zone 10b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Lemon Grove?
Lemon Grove has about 349 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 6) and first fall frost (December 21).
When should I plant tomatoes in Lemon Grove?
For Lemon Grove, sow tomatoes indoors about November 11–November 25 and move the seedlings out around January 13, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Lemon Grove
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lemon Grove’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- La Presa · 4 km
- La Mesa · 4 km
- Spring Valley · 5 km
- Casa de Oro-Mount Helix · 7 km
- Bonita · 7 km
- National City · 10 km
- El Cajon · 10 km
- Rancho San Diego · 11 km
Frost dates recorded at EL CAJON, 12 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 Lemon Grove, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00042706. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/lemon-grove.