When to plant in Selma, CA
USDA Zone 9bSelma, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Selma enjoys a long ~315-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Heads up: the nearest complete-normals station is about 23 km from Selma, so your yard's frost dates can differ — a low spot or a paved city center can shift them by a week. Zone 9b is warm enough that Selma can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
FRESNO 5 NE · 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 Selma’s own odds, recorded at FRESNO 5 NE.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 3 | Mar 2 | Feb 3 | Nov 14 | Nov 27 | Dec 12 |
| 32°F | Mar 4 | Jan 30 | Jan 1 | Nov 25 | Dec 11 | Jan 8 |
| 28°F | Jan 27 | Jan 4 | Dec 16 | Dec 5 | Dec 24 | Jan 14 |
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 Selma, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 28 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.
Selma planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Selma, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Selma around January 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 Selma, CA?
In Selma, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around December 11 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.
What hardiness zone is Selma in?
Selma is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Selma?
There are roughly 315 frost-free days in Selma (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 30 to the first fall frost near December 11.
When should I plant tomatoes in Selma?
In Selma, start tomato seeds indoors around December 5–December 19, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 6 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Selma
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Selma’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at FRESNO 5 NE, 23 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 Selma, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00043256. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/selma.