When to plant in Menlo Park, CA
USDA Zone 10aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Menlo Park, California — all computed from Menlo Park's nearest NOAA weather station.
A generous ~309-day season lets Menlo Park gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 10a is warm enough that Menlo Park can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Menlo Park is now 6 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
PALO ALTO · 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 Menlo Park’s own odds, recorded at PALO ALTO.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 15 | Mar 11 | Feb 5 | Nov 3 | Nov 21 | Dec 8 |
| 32°F | Mar 4 | Feb 1 | Dec 28 | Nov 20 | Dec 7 | Jan 6 |
| 28°F | Feb 17 | Jan 4 | Dec 15 | Dec 3 | Dec 22 | Jan 25 |
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 Menlo Park, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 11 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.
Menlo Park planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Menlo Park, CA?
Menlo Park's average last spring frost falls near February 1 — 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 Menlo Park, CA?
In Menlo Park, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 7 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Menlo Park in?
Menlo Park is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Menlo Park?
There are roughly 309 frost-free days in Menlo Park (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 1 to the first fall frost near December 7.
When should I plant tomatoes in Menlo Park?
In Menlo Park, start tomato seeds indoors around December 7–December 21, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 8 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Menlo Park
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Menlo Park’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- East Palo Alto · 2 km
- North Fair Oaks · 5 km
- Stanford · 6 km
- Redwood City · 7 km
- Palo Alto · 9 km
- Newark · 11 km
- San Carlos · 11 km
- Mountain View · 11 km
Frost dates recorded at PALO ALTO, 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 Menlo Park, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00046646. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/menlo-park.