When to plant in Manteca, CA
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Manteca, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A generous ~298-day season lets Manteca gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 9b is warm enough that Manteca can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Manteca is now 13 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
STOCKTON METRO 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 Manteca’s own odds, recorded at STOCKTON METRO AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 7 | Mar 10 | Feb 11 | Nov 4 | Nov 18 | Dec 2 |
| 32°F | Feb 28 | Feb 6 | Dec 31 | Nov 15 | Dec 1 | Dec 26 |
| 28°F | Feb 5 | Jan 10 | Dec 14 | Nov 29 | Dec 16 | Jan 14 |
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 Manteca, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Manteca planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Manteca, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Manteca around February 6 (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 Manteca, CA?
The first fall frost in Manteca typically arrives around December 1 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Manteca in?
Manteca is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Manteca?
There are roughly 298 frost-free days in Manteca (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 6 to the first fall frost near December 1.
When should I plant tomatoes in Manteca?
In Manteca, start tomato seeds indoors around December 12–December 26, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 13 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Manteca
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Manteca’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Lathrop · 8 km
- Ripon · 10 km
- Salida · 16 km
- Garden Acres · 19 km
- Tracy · 21 km
- Stockton · 22 km
- Country Club · 22 km
- Riverbank · 26 km
Frost dates recorded at STOCKTON METRO AP, 11 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 Manteca, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00023237. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/manteca.