When to plant in Los Banos, CA
USDA Zone 9aLos Banos, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
A generous ~318-day season lets Los Banos gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Los Banos — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Los Banos is now 5 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
LOS BANOS · 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 Los Banos’s own odds, recorded at LOS BANOS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 3 | Feb 24 | Jan 26 | Nov 12 | Nov 27 | Dec 11 |
| 32°F | Feb 20 | Jan 26 | Dec 29 | Nov 26 | Dec 10 | Jan 4 |
| 28°F | Feb 4 | Jan 6 | Dec 17 | Dec 6 | Dec 24 | Jan 19 |
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 Los Banos, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 19 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.
Los Banos planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Los Banos, CA?
On average, the last spring frost in Los Banos is around January 26 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Los Banos, CA?
In Los Banos, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 10 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Los Banos in?
Los Banos is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Los Banos?
Los Banos has about 318 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 26) and first fall frost (December 10).
When should I plant tomatoes in Los Banos?
For Los Banos, sow tomatoes indoors about December 1–December 15 and move the seedlings out around February 2, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Los Banos
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Los Banos’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at LOS BANOS, 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 Los Banos, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00045118. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/los-banos.