When to plant in Stockton, CA
USDA Zone 9bStockton, California frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
Stockton enjoys a long ~306-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. In zone 9b, frost is a minor factor for Stockton — most perennials thrive, and annual vegetables can go out early and stay late.
The average last spring frost in Stockton is now 13 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
STOCKTON FIRE STN 4 · 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 Stockton’s own odds, recorded at STOCKTON FIRE STN 4.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 13 | Mar 4 | Feb 1 | Nov 3 | Nov 20 | Dec 13 |
| 32°F | Mar 11 | Feb 5 | Dec 27 | Nov 17 | Dec 8 | Jan 6 |
| 28°F | Feb 21 | Jan 11 | Dec 12 | Dec 1 | Dec 23 | Jan 29 |
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 Stockton, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 15 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.
Stockton planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Stockton, CA?
On average, the last spring frost in Stockton is around February 5 (50% probability at 32°F, from 1991–2020 NOAA normals). Wait until after this date to set out tender plants like tomatoes and peppers.
When is the first fall frost in Stockton, CA?
The first fall frost in Stockton typically arrives around December 8 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Stockton in?
Stockton is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Stockton?
Stockton has about 306 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (February 5) and first fall frost (December 8).
When should I plant tomatoes in Stockton?
For Stockton, sow tomatoes indoors about December 11–December 25 and move the seedlings out around February 12, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Stockton
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Stockton’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Country Club · 3 km
- Garden Acres · 7 km
- Lodi · 16 km
- Lathrop · 19 km
- Manteca · 22 km
- Discovery Bay · 26 km
- Mountain House · 30 km
- Ripon · 30 km
Frost dates recorded at STOCKTON FIRE STN 4, 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 Stockton, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00048560. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/stockton.