When to plant in Lincoln, CA
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Lincoln, California — all computed from Lincoln's nearest NOAA weather station.
Lincoln enjoys a long ~283-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Lincoln's nearest full-normals station sits about 18 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Lincoln — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Lincoln is now 10 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
AUBURN · 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 Lincoln’s own odds, recorded at AUBURN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 30 | Apr 5 | Mar 2 | Oct 30 | Nov 19 | Dec 7 |
| 32°F | Apr 7 | Feb 25 | Jan 15 | Nov 15 | Dec 5 | Dec 31 |
| 28°F | Feb 25 | Jan 13 | Dec 19 | Dec 1 | Dec 22 | Jan 22 |
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 Lincoln, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 35 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.
Lincoln planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lincoln, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lincoln around February 25 (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 Lincoln, CA?
Expect Lincoln's first fall frost near December 5 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Lincoln in?
Lincoln is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Lincoln?
Lincoln has about 283 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 25) and first fall frost (December 5).
When should I plant tomatoes in Lincoln?
For Lincoln, sow tomatoes indoors about December 31–January 14 and move the seedlings out around March 4, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Lincoln
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lincoln’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Rocklin · 8 km
- Roseville · 12 km
- Granite Bay · 17 km
- Antelope · 19 km
- Auburn · 19 km
- North Auburn · 19 km
- Citrus Heights · 20 km
- Foothill Farms · 21 km
Frost dates recorded at AUBURN, 18 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 Lincoln, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00040383. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/lincoln.