When to plant in Morro Bay, CA
USDA Zone 9bMorro Bay, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
A ~-5-day frost-free window makes Morro Bay a short-season garden: choose early varieties and start long-season crops indoors well ahead of the last frost. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Morro Bay — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
Frost probability
MORRO BAY FIRE DEPT · 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 Morro Bay’s own odds, recorded at MORRO BAY FIRE DEPT.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 21 | Jan 21 | Dec 18 | Dec 8 | Dec 31 | Feb 4 |
| 32°F | Feb 9 | Jan 19 | Dec 30 | Dec 25 | Jan 14 | Feb 8 |
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 Morro Bay, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 25 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.
Morro Bay planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Morro Bay, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Morro Bay around January 19 (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 Morro Bay, CA?
In Morro Bay, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around January 14 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Morro Bay in?
Morro Bay is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Morro Bay?
Morro Bay has about -5 frost-free days — a short growing season — between the average last spring frost (January 19) and first fall frost (January 14).
When should I plant tomatoes in Morro Bay?
For Morro Bay, sow tomatoes indoors about November 24–December 8 and move the seedlings out around January 26, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Morro Bay
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Morro Bay’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Los Osos · 8 km
- Atascadero · 21 km
- San Luis Obispo · 21 km
- El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles) · 35 km
- Grover Beach · 35 km
- Arroyo Grande · 37 km
- Nipomo · 50 km
- Santa Maria · 62 km
Frost dates recorded at MORRO BAY FIRE DEPT, 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 Morro Bay, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00045866. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/morro-bay.