When to plant in Lompoc, CA
USDA Zone 10aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Lompoc, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A generous ~333-day season lets Lompoc gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 10a is warm enough that Lompoc can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Lompoc is now 8 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
LOMPOC · 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 Lompoc’s own odds, recorded at LOMPOC.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 5 | Feb 28 | Jan 26 | Nov 3 | Dec 1 | Dec 22 |
| 32°F | Feb 24 | Jan 20 | Dec 16 | Nov 27 | Dec 19 | Jan 26 |
| 28°F | Jan 30 | Jan 1 | Dec 13 | Dec 9 | Dec 29 | Jan 29 |
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 Lompoc, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 39 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.
Lompoc planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Lompoc, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Lompoc around January 20 (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 Lompoc, CA?
Expect Lompoc's first fall frost near December 19 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Lompoc in?
Lompoc is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Lompoc?
There are roughly 333 frost-free days in Lompoc (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 20 to the first fall frost near December 19.
When should I plant tomatoes in Lompoc?
In Lompoc, start tomato seeds indoors around November 25–December 9, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 27 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Lompoc
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Lompoc’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Orcutt · 23 km
- Santa Maria · 30 km
- Nipomo · 41 km
- Arroyo Grande · 52 km
- Grover Beach · 53 km
- Goleta · 61 km
- Isla Vista · 62 km
- University of California-Santa Barbara · 63 km
Frost dates recorded at LOMPOC, 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 Lompoc, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00045064. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/lompoc.