When to plant in Live Oak, CA
USDA Zone 10aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Live Oak, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Live Oak enjoys a long ~318-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. In zone 10a, frost is a minor factor for Live Oak — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average first fall frost in Live Oak is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SANTA CRUZ · 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 Live Oak’s own odds, recorded at SANTA CRUZ.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 12 | Mar 14 | Feb 4 | Nov 7 | Nov 24 | Dec 15 |
| 32°F | Feb 28 | Jan 29 | Dec 25 | Nov 23 | Dec 13 | Jan 22 |
| 28°F | Jan 31 | Jan 3 | Dec 12 | Dec 6 | Dec 27 | Jan 27 |
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 Live Oak, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 18 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.
Live Oak planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Live Oak, CA?
Live Oak's average last spring frost falls near January 29 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Live Oak, CA?
In Live Oak, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 13 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Live Oak in?
Live Oak is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Live Oak?
Live Oak has about 318 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 29) and first fall frost (December 13).
When should I plant tomatoes in Live Oak?
For Live Oak, sow tomatoes indoors about December 4–December 18 and move the seedlings out around February 5, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Live Oak
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Live Oak’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Soquel · 3 km
- Santa Cruz · 5 km
- Scotts Valley · 8 km
- Watsonville · 20 km
- Los Gatos · 27 km
- Saratoga · 32 km
- Campbell · 33 km
- Morgan Hill · 34 km
Frost dates recorded at SANTA CRUZ, 2 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 Live Oak, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00047916. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/live-oak.