blissgarden.

When to plant in Newport Beach, CA

USDA Zone 10b

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Newport Beach, California — all computed from Newport Beach's nearest NOAA weather station.

With only about -4 frost-free days, Newport Beach has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. Zone 10b is warm enough that Newport Beach can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.

Station · LAGUNA BEACH · 11.9 km
Last spring frost
January 6
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
January 2
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
-4 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for Newport BeachA year-band from January to December for Newport Beach: Newport Beach is effectively frost-free at 32°F — no distinct frost season.
Newport Beach is effectively frost-free at 32°F — no distinct frost season.

Frost probability

LAGUNA BEACH · 1991–2020

The 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 Newport Beach’s own odds, recorded at LAGUNA BEACH.

Frost-probability curves for Newport BeachProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around January 6 and the first fall frost around January 2, where a 32°F freeze is rare enough that there is effectively no distinct frost season.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FFeb 28Jan 30Dec 26Dec 1Dec 26Feb 2
32°FFeb 11Jan 6Dec 13Dec 12Jan 2Feb 8

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19

Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.

Add the next planting windows to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Newport Beach, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 44 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

LAGUNA BEACH
Primary
12 km · 13 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 6
FALL
Jan 2
TUSTIN IRVINE RCH
13 km · 72 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 5
FALL
Dec 25
CHINO AP
44 km · 198 m elevation
SPRING
Jan 17
FALL
Dec 19

Newport Beach planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Newport Beach, CA?

On average, the last spring frost in Newport Beach is around January 6 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.

When is the first fall frost in Newport Beach, CA?

Expect Newport Beach's first fall frost near January 2 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.

What hardiness zone is Newport Beach in?

Newport Beach is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. In zone 10b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Newport Beach?

There are roughly -4 frost-free days in Newport Beach (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 6 to the first fall frost near January 2.

When should I plant tomatoes in Newport Beach?

In Newport Beach, start tomato seeds indoors around November 11–November 25, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 13 once the danger of frost has passed.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Newport Beach

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Newport Beach’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at LAGUNA BEACH, 12 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Newport Beach, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00044647. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/newport-beach.
When to Plant in Newport Beach, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10b — BlissGarden