When to plant in North Highlands, CA
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in North Highlands, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
North Highlands enjoys a long ~338-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Zone 9b is warm enough that North Highlands can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in North Highlands is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SACRAMENTO 5 ESE · 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 North Highlands’s own odds, recorded at SACRAMENTO 5 ESE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 11 | Feb 12 | Jan 9 | Nov 15 | Dec 1 | Dec 29 |
| 32°F | Feb 8 | Jan 12 | Dec 18 | Nov 28 | Dec 16 | Jan 14 |
| 28°F | Jan 22 | Dec 31 | Dec 13 | Dec 5 | Dec 25 | Jan 14 |
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 North Highlands, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 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.
North Highlands planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in North Highlands, CA?
On average, the last spring frost in North Highlands is around January 12 (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 North Highlands, CA?
The first fall frost in North Highlands typically arrives around December 16 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is North Highlands in?
North Highlands is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in North Highlands?
There are roughly 338 frost-free days in North Highlands (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 12 to the first fall frost near December 16.
When should I plant tomatoes in North Highlands?
In North Highlands, start tomato seeds indoors around November 17–December 1, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 19 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in North Highlands
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to North Highlands’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Foothill Farms · 3 km
- Antelope · 5 km
- Carmichael · 6 km
- Rio Linda · 6 km
- Citrus Heights · 8 km
- Arden-Arcade · 8 km
- Fair Oaks · 11 km
- La Riviera · 12 km
Frost dates recorded at SACRAMENTO 5 ESE, 13 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 North Highlands, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00023271. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/north-highlands.