When to plant in Madera, CA
USDA Zone 9bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Madera, California — all computed from Madera's nearest NOAA weather station.
A generous ~291-day season lets Madera gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 9b is warm enough that Madera can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Madera is now 10 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
MADERA MUNI AP · 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 Madera’s own odds, recorded at MADERA MUNI AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 17 | Mar 23 | Feb 24 | Oct 30 | Nov 15 | Dec 1 |
| 32°F | Mar 17 | Feb 12 | Jan 6 | Nov 14 | Nov 30 | Jan 3 |
| 28°F | Feb 12 | Jan 7 | Dec 11 | Nov 24 | Dec 15 | Jan 19 |
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 Madera, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 34 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.
Madera planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Madera, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Madera around February 12 (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 Madera, CA?
The first fall frost in Madera typically arrives around November 30 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Madera in?
Madera is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Madera?
There are roughly 291 frost-free days in Madera (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 12 to the first fall frost near November 30.
When should I plant tomatoes in Madera?
In Madera, start tomato seeds indoors around December 18–January 1, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 19 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Madera
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Madera’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at MADERA MUNI AP, 3 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 Madera, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093242. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/madera.