When to plant in Monterey, CA
USDA Zone 10aEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Monterey, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Monterey enjoys a long ~363-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Zone 10a is warm enough that Monterey can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Monterey is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
MONTEREY · 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 Monterey’s own odds, recorded at MONTEREY.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 2 | Jan 19 | Dec 19 | Nov 30 | Dec 22 | Jan 25 |
| 32°F | Jan 21 | Jan 1 | Dec 11 | Dec 7 | Dec 30 | Jan 18 |
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 Monterey, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 4 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.
Monterey planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Monterey, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Monterey around January 1 (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 Monterey, CA?
In Monterey, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 30 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Monterey in?
Monterey is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Monterey?
There are roughly 363 frost-free days in Monterey (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 1 to the first fall frost near December 30.
When should I plant tomatoes in Monterey?
In Monterey, start tomato seeds indoors around November 6–November 20, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 8 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Monterey
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Monterey’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Pacific Grove · 5 km
- Seaside · 6 km
- Marina · 12 km
- Salinas · 24 km
- Prunedale · 31 km
- Watsonville · 37 km
- Santa Cruz · 44 km
- Live Oak · 44 km
Frost dates recorded at MONTEREY, 2 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 Monterey, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00045795. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/monterey.