When to plant lime in California
California spans USDA zones 6b–11a, so the right time to plant lime shifts by weeks across the state. The window to transplant seedlings outdoors runs from about January 5 in San Mateo to June 16 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 9 – January 16 |
| San Diego | 10b | January 6 | December 21 | January 13 – January 20 |
| San Jose | 9b | January 2 | December 25 | January 9 – January 16 |
| San Francisco | 10a | December 30 | December 25 | January 6 – January 13 |
| Fresno | 9b | January 14 | December 14 | January 21 – January 28 |
| Sacramento | 9b | January 12 | December 16 | January 19 – January 26 |
| Long Beach | 10b | January 9 | January 5 | January 16 – January 23 |
| Oakland | 10a | January 7 | December 23 | January 14 – January 21 |
Lime in California: FAQ
When can I plant lime in California?
Across California, the time to transplant lime spans roughly January 5 in San Mateo to June 16 in Truckee, each following that city's local frost dates.
Does the lime planting date vary across California?
Yes. California publishes 497 cities with their own frost dates, so the right lime planting window shifts by weeks between the warmest and coldest parts of the state — use your city's page for the exact dates.
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