When to plant in McKinleyville, CA
USDA Zone 9bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for McKinleyville, California — all computed from McKinleyville's nearest NOAA weather station.
With about 267 frost-free days, McKinleyville supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for McKinleyville — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in McKinleyville is now 17 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
ARCATA EUREKA 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 McKinleyville’s own odds, recorded at ARCATA EUREKA AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 15 | Apr 24 | Mar 28 | Oct 11 | Nov 1 | Nov 24 |
| 32°F | Apr 15 | Mar 8 | Jan 13 | Nov 1 | Nov 30 | Jan 4 |
| 28°F | Feb 26 | Jan 20 | Dec 14 | Nov 30 | Dec 24 | Feb 8 |
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 McKinleyville, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 46 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.
McKinleyville planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in McKinleyville, CA?
McKinleyville's average last spring frost falls near March 8 — 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 McKinleyville, CA?
Expect McKinleyville's first fall frost near November 30 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is McKinleyville in?
McKinleyville is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in McKinleyville?
McKinleyville has about 267 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 8) and first fall frost (November 30).
When should I plant tomatoes in McKinleyville?
For McKinleyville, sow tomatoes indoors about January 11–January 25 and move the seedlings out around March 15, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in McKinleyville
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to McKinleyville’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Arcata · 10 km
- Eureka · 18 km
- Fortuna · 41 km
- Shasta Lake · 146 km
- Redding · 150 km
- Anderson · 160 km
- Grants Pass · 176 km
- Red Bluff · 178 km
Frost dates recorded at ARCATA EUREKA AP, 4 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 McKinleyville, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00024283. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/mckinleyville.