When to plant in Mendota, CA
USDA Zone 9aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Mendota, California — all computed from Mendota's nearest NOAA weather station.
A generous ~291-day season lets Mendota gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 35 km from Mendota, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. In zone 9a, frost is a minor factor for Mendota — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Mendota 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 Mendota’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 Mendota, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 48 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.
Mendota planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Mendota, CA?
Mendota's average last spring frost falls near February 12 — 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 Mendota, CA?
The first fall frost in Mendota typically arrives around November 30 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Mendota in?
Mendota is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Mendota?
Mendota has about 291 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 12) and first fall frost (November 30).
When should I plant tomatoes in Mendota?
For Mendota, sow tomatoes indoors about December 18–January 1 and move the seedlings out around February 19, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Mendota
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Mendota’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at MADERA MUNI AP, 35 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 Mendota, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093242. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/mendota.