When to plant in Palm Desert, CA
USDA Zone 10aPalm Desert, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Palm Desert's growing season is short at roughly -4 days, so succession planting is limited; lean on transplants over direct sowing for anything slow to mature. Zone 10a is warm enough that Palm Desert can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Palm Desert is now 10 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
INDIO FIRE STN · 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 Palm Desert’s own odds, recorded at INDIO FIRE STN.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Jan 31 | Jan 1 | Dec 10 | Nov 30 | Dec 18 | Jan 7 |
| 32°F | Jan 21 | Dec 31 | Dec 10 | Dec 8 | Dec 27 | Jan 13 |
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 Palm Desert, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 17 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.
Palm Desert planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Palm Desert, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Palm Desert around December 31 (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 Palm Desert, CA?
In Palm Desert, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 27 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Palm Desert in?
Palm Desert is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Palm Desert?
There are roughly -4 frost-free days in Palm Desert (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around December 31 to the first fall frost near December 27.
When should I plant tomatoes in Palm Desert?
In Palm Desert, start tomato seeds indoors around November 5–November 19, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 7 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Palm Desert
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Palm Desert’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Rancho Mirage · 7 km
- Indio · 12 km
- La Quinta · 14 km
- Cathedral City · 14 km
- Palm Springs · 18 km
- Coachella · 21 km
- Desert Hot Springs · 29 km
- Yucca Valley · 43 km
Frost dates recorded at INDIO FIRE STN, 14 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 Palm Desert, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00044259. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/palm-desert.