When to plant in Nipomo, CA
USDA Zone 9bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Nipomo, California — all computed from Nipomo's nearest NOAA weather station.
Nipomo enjoys a long ~312-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Nipomo's nearest full-normals station sits about 15 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. Zone 9b is warm enough that Nipomo can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Nipomo is now 15 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SANTA MARIA PUBLIC 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 Nipomo’s own odds, recorded at SANTA MARIA PUBLIC AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 17 | Mar 22 | Feb 12 | Nov 3 | Nov 25 | Dec 14 |
| 32°F | Mar 16 | Feb 4 | Dec 29 | Nov 21 | Dec 13 | Jan 10 |
| 28°F | Feb 8 | Jan 5 | Dec 14 | Dec 5 | Dec 27 | Jan 27 |
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 Nipomo, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 22 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.
Nipomo planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Nipomo, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Nipomo around February 4 (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 Nipomo, CA?
In Nipomo, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 13 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Nipomo in?
Nipomo is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Nipomo?
There are roughly 312 frost-free days in Nipomo (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 4 to the first fall frost near December 13.
When should I plant tomatoes in Nipomo?
In Nipomo, start tomato seeds indoors around December 10–December 24, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 11 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Nipomo
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Nipomo’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Santa Maria · 12 km
- Arroyo Grande · 13 km
- Grover Beach · 15 km
- Orcutt · 19 km
- San Luis Obispo · 30 km
- Lompoc · 41 km
- Los Osos · 43 km
- Morro Bay · 50 km
Frost dates recorded at SANTA MARIA PUBLIC AP, 15 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 Nipomo, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00023273. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/nipomo.