When to plant in Ridgecrest, CA
USDA Zone 8bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Ridgecrest, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Ridgecrest enjoys a long ~246-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Zone 8b means many perennials and even some tender shrubs overwinter in Ridgecrest, while your frost dates still decide when annuals go out.
The average last spring frost in Ridgecrest is now 10 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
CHINA LAKE NAF · 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 Ridgecrest’s own odds, recorded at CHINA LAKE NAF.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 22 | Apr 3 | Mar 11 | Oct 21 | Nov 2 | Nov 15 |
| 32°F | Apr 9 | Mar 11 | Feb 18 | Oct 29 | Nov 12 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F | Mar 9 | Feb 20 | Jan 29 | Nov 6 | Nov 23 | Dec 6 |
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 Ridgecrest, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 29 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.
Ridgecrest planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Ridgecrest, CA?
Ridgecrest's average last spring frost falls near March 11 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.
When is the first fall frost in Ridgecrest, CA?
In Ridgecrest, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 12 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Ridgecrest in?
Ridgecrest is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Ridgecrest?
There are roughly 246 frost-free days in Ridgecrest (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around March 11 to the first fall frost near November 12.
When should I plant tomatoes in Ridgecrest?
In Ridgecrest, start tomato seeds indoors around January 14–January 28, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 18 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Ridgecrest
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Ridgecrest’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- California City · 57 km
- Tehachapi · 89 km
- Rosamond · 98 km
- Barstow · 102 km
- Lancaster · 114 km
- Lake Los Angeles · 114 km
- Arvin · 116 km
- East Niles · 118 km
Frost dates recorded at CHINA LAKE NAF, 7 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 Ridgecrest, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USW00093104. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/ridgecrest.