When to plant in San Francisco, CA
USDA Zone 10aSan Francisco, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
San Francisco's growing season is short at roughly -5 days, so succession planting is limited; lean on transplants over direct sowing for anything slow to mature. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 46 km from San Francisco, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 10a is warm enough that San Francisco can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average first fall frost in San Francisco is now 8 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE · 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 Francisco’s own odds, recorded at SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 7 | Jan 15 | Dec 11 | Nov 28 | Dec 26 | Feb 22 |
| 32°F | Mar 13 | Dec 30 | Dec 2 | Nov 26 | Dec 25 | Feb 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 San Francisco, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
2 within 50 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 Francisco planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in San Francisco, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in San Francisco around December 30 (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 San Francisco, CA?
The first fall frost in San Francisco typically arrives around December 25 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is San Francisco in?
San Francisco is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. In zone 10a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in San Francisco?
There are roughly -5 frost-free days in San Francisco (a short growing season), running from the average last frost around December 30 to the first fall frost near December 25.
When should I plant tomatoes in San Francisco?
In San Francisco, start tomato seeds indoors around November 4–November 18, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 6 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in San Francisco
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to San Francisco’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Tamalpais-Homestead Valley · 47 km
- Mill Valley · 48 km
- San Anselmo · 50 km
- Daly City · 50 km
- Larkspur · 50 km
- Pacifica · 51 km
- Corte Madera · 51 km
- San Rafael · 54 km
Frost dates recorded at SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE, 46 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 Francisco, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00047767. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/san-francisco.