When to plant in Santa Monica, CA
USDA Zone 11aHere are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Santa Monica, California — all computed from Santa Monica's nearest NOAA weather station.
With about 325 frost-free days, Santa Monica supports back-to-back plantings; stagger sowings every few weeks to keep beds productive spring through fall. Santa Monica's nearest full-normals station sits about 20 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. Zone 11a is warm enough that Santa Monica can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
WOODLAND HILLS PIERCE COLLEGE · 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 Santa Monica’s own odds, recorded at WOODLAND HILLS PIERCE COLLEGE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 7 | Mar 2 | Jan 30 | Nov 12 | Nov 29 | Dec 19 |
| 32°F | Mar 5 | Jan 24 | Dec 21 | Nov 27 | Dec 15 | Jan 26 |
| 28°F | Feb 1 | Dec 31 | Dec 5 | Dec 1 | Dec 26 | Jan 25 |
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 Santa Monica, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Santa Monica planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Santa Monica, CA?
Santa Monica's average last spring frost falls near January 24 — 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 Santa Monica, CA?
In Santa Monica, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 15 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Santa Monica in?
Santa Monica is in USDA hardiness zone 11a. In zone 11a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Santa Monica?
There are roughly 325 frost-free days in Santa Monica (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 24 to the first fall frost near December 15.
When should I plant tomatoes in Santa Monica?
In Santa Monica, start tomato seeds indoors around November 29–December 13, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 31 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Santa Monica
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Santa Monica’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Los Angeles · 8 km
- Culver City · 9 km
- Beverly Hills · 12 km
- El Segundo · 13 km
- View Park-Windsor Hills · 14 km
- Manhattan Beach · 14 km
- West Hollywood · 14 km
- Lennox · 15 km
Frost dates recorded at WOODLAND HILLS PIERCE COLLEGE, 20 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 Santa Monica, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 11a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00049785. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/santa-monica.