When to plant cardoon in California
California spans USDA zones 6b–11a, so the right time to plant cardoon shifts by weeks across the state. The window to transplant seedlings outdoors runs from about December 29 in San Mateo to June 9 in Truckee — below are local dates for 497 cities, each computed from its own frost dates.
| City | Zone | Last frost | First frost | Transplant out |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles | 10b | January 2 | December 26 | January 2 – January 16 |
| San Diego | 10b | January 6 | December 21 | January 6 – January 20 |
| San Jose | 9b | January 2 | December 25 | January 2 – January 16 |
| San Francisco | 10a | December 30 | December 25 | December 30 – January 13 |
| Fresno | 9b | January 14 | December 14 | January 14 – January 28 |
| Sacramento | 9b | January 12 | December 16 | January 12 – January 26 |
| Long Beach | 10b | January 9 | January 5 | January 9 – January 23 |
| Oakland | 10a | January 7 | December 23 | January 7 – January 21 |
Cardoon in California: FAQ
When can I plant cardoon in California?
Across California, the time to transplant cardoon spans roughly December 29 in San Mateo to June 9 in Truckee, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the cardoon planting date vary across California?
Yes. California publishes 497 cities with their own frost dates, so the right cardoon planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
How long does cardoon take to grow in California?
Cardoon takes about 120–150 days to reach harvest once planted — check that this fits inside your city's frost-free season on its place page.
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