When to plant in Patterson, CA
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Patterson, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
With about 308 frost-free days, Patterson supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 24 km from Patterson, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 9b is warm enough that Patterson can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in Patterson is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
MODESTO CITY CO 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 Patterson’s own odds, recorded at MODESTO CITY CO AP.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 31 | Mar 1 | Feb 3 | Nov 8 | Nov 22 | Dec 9 |
| 32°F | Feb 25 | Jan 31 | Dec 31 | Nov 20 | Dec 5 | Jan 6 |
| 28°F | Feb 6 | Jan 8 | Dec 16 | Dec 1 | Dec 21 | Jan 20 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Patterson, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 27 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.
Patterson planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Patterson, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Patterson around January 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 Patterson, CA?
In Patterson, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 5 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Patterson in?
Patterson is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Patterson?
There are roughly 308 frost-free days in Patterson (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 31 to the first fall frost near December 5.
When should I plant tomatoes in Patterson?
In Patterson, start tomato seeds indoors around December 6–December 20, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 7 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Patterson
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Patterson’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at MODESTO CITY CO AP, 24 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 Patterson, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00023258. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/patterson.