When to plant in Orcutt, CA
USDA Zone 9bOrcutt, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
A generous ~312-day season lets Orcutt gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Orcutt — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Orcutt 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 Orcutt’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 Orcutt, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Orcutt planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Orcutt, CA?
On average, the last spring frost in Orcutt is around February 4 (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 Orcutt, CA?
In Orcutt, 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 Orcutt in?
Orcutt is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Orcutt?
Orcutt has about 312 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 4) and first fall frost (December 13).
When should I plant tomatoes in Orcutt?
For Orcutt, sow tomatoes indoors about December 10–December 24 and move the seedlings out around February 11, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Orcutt
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Orcutt’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Santa Maria · 7 km
- Nipomo · 19 km
- Lompoc · 23 km
- Arroyo Grande · 32 km
- Grover Beach · 33 km
- San Luis Obispo · 50 km
- Los Osos · 61 km
- Morro Bay · 69 km
Frost dates recorded at SANTA MARIA PUBLIC AP, 4 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 Orcutt, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00023273. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/orcutt.