When to plant in San Clemente, CA
USDA Zone 10bHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for San Clemente, California — all computed from San Clemente's nearest NOAA weather station.
With only about -4 frost-free days, San Clemente has a short season — start heat-lovers indoors early, favor quick-maturing varieties, and use row cover to stretch both ends. San Clemente's nearest full-normals station sits about 19 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. Zone 10b is warm enough that San Clemente can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
LAGUNA BEACH · 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 San Clemente’s own odds, recorded at LAGUNA BEACH.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 28 | Jan 30 | Dec 26 | Dec 1 | Dec 26 | Feb 2 |
| 32°F | Feb 11 | Jan 6 | Dec 13 | Dec 12 | Jan 2 | Feb 8 |
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 San Clemente, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 31 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.
San Clemente planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in San Clemente, CA?
San Clemente's average last spring frost falls near January 6 — 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 San Clemente, CA?
Expect San Clemente's first fall frost near January 2 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is San Clemente in?
San Clemente is in USDA hardiness zone 10b. In zone 10b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in San Clemente?
There are roughly -4 frost-free days in San Clemente (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around January 6 to the first fall frost near January 2.
When should I plant tomatoes in San Clemente?
In San Clemente, start tomato seeds indoors around November 11–November 25, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 13 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in San Clemente
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to San Clemente’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- San Juan Capistrano · 7 km
- Dana Point · 8 km
- Rancho Mission Viejo · 9 km
- Ladera Ranch · 11 km
- Laguna Niguel · 12 km
- Coto de Caza · 17 km
- Laguna Beach · 17 km
- Laguna Hills · 18 km
Frost dates recorded at LAGUNA BEACH, 19 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 San Clemente, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00044647. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/san-clemente.