When to plant in San Rafael, CA
USDA Zone 10aSan Rafael, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
San Rafael enjoys a long ~344-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Zone 10a is warm enough that San Rafael can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in San Rafael is now 9 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
SAN RAFAEL CIVIC CTR · 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 Rafael’s own odds, recorded at SAN RAFAEL CIVIC CTR.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 6 | Feb 22 | Jan 6 | Nov 15 | Dec 5 | Jan 1 |
| 32°F | Feb 25 | Jan 11 | Dec 14 | Dec 2 | Dec 21 | Feb 9 |
| 28°F | Feb 21 | Dec 31 | Dec 11 | Dec 7 | Dec 29 | Feb 18 |
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 Rafael, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 13 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 Rafael planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in San Rafael, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in San Rafael around January 11 (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 Rafael, CA?
Expect San Rafael's first fall frost near December 21 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is San Rafael in?
San Rafael 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 Rafael?
There are roughly 344 frost-free days in San Rafael (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 11 to the first fall frost near December 21.
When should I plant tomatoes in San Rafael?
In San Rafael, start tomato seeds indoors around November 16–November 30, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 18 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in San Rafael
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to San Rafael’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Larkspur · 5 km
- Corte Madera · 5 km
- San Anselmo · 6 km
- Mill Valley · 9 km
- Tamalpais-Homestead Valley · 12 km
- Novato · 12 km
- Richmond · 13 km
- San Pablo · 15 km
Frost dates recorded at SAN RAFAEL CIVIC CTR, 3 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 Rafael, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 10a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00047880. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/san-rafael.