When to plant in Turlock, CA
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Turlock, California — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
Turlock enjoys a long ~348-day frost-free season — you can succession-sow, fit in a second crop, and grow long-season heat-lovers with room to spare. Zone 9b is warm enough that Turlock can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Turlock is now 20 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
TURLOCK #2 · 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 Turlock’s own odds, recorded at TURLOCK #2.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Feb 26 | Jan 31 | Jan 2 | Nov 21 | Dec 7 | Jan 3 |
| 32°F | Jan 31 | Jan 6 | Dec 14 | Dec 3 | Dec 20 | Jan 16 |
| 28°F | Jan 20 | Dec 30 | Dec 10 | Dec 8 | Dec 24 | Jan 16 |
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 Turlock, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 29 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.
Turlock planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Turlock, CA?
Plan for the last spring frost in Turlock around January 6 (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 Turlock, CA?
Expect Turlock's first fall frost near December 20 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Turlock in?
Turlock is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Turlock?
There are roughly 348 frost-free days in Turlock (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around January 6 to the first fall frost near December 20.
When should I plant tomatoes in Turlock?
In Turlock, start tomato seeds indoors around November 11–November 25, then transplant seedlings outdoors around January 13 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Turlock
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Turlock’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reachFrost dates recorded at TURLOCK #2, 1 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 Turlock, CA — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00049073. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/california/turlock.