When to Plant Tomatoes in California
In California, the time to transplant tomatoes outside runs from Jan 8 – Jan 22 in Fremont to Jan 7 – Jan 21 in Oxnard. In Los Angeles, it's Jan 9 – Jan 23. The average last spring frost differs by about 52 weeks across the state (Jan 1 in Fremont, Dec 31 in Oxnard), so use the dates for the town nearest you.
Tomatoes are killed by frost and sulk in cold soil. Wait until nights stay above 50°F, usually one to three weeks after the average last frost.
- Start indoors: 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
- Transplant outside: 1–3 weeks after the last frost.
Tomatoes planting dates in California by city
| City | Zone | Start indoors | Transplant outside |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anaheim | 10a | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Bakersfield | 9b | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| Chula Vista | 10b | Nov 11 – Nov 25 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| Corona | 10a | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 |
| Elk Grove | 9b | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 |
| Escondido | 10a | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Fontana | 10a | Nov 9 – Nov 23 | Jan 11 – Jan 25 |
| Fremont | 10a | Nov 6 – Nov 20 | Jan 8 – Jan 22 |
| Fresno | 9b | Nov 19 – Dec 3 | Jan 21 – Feb 4 |
| Garden Grove | 10b | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Glendale | 10a | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Hayward | 10a | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Huntington Beach | 10b | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Irvine | 10a | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Lancaster | 8a | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 |
| Long Beach | 10b | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 |
| Los Angeles | 10b | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Modesto | 9b | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 7 – Feb 21 |
| Moreno Valley | 9b | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Feb 3 – Feb 17 |
| Oakland | 10a | Nov 12 – Nov 26 | Jan 14 – Jan 28 |
| Oceanside | 10a | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 |
| Ontario | 10a | Nov 9 – Nov 23 | Jan 11 – Jan 25 |
| Oxnard | 10b | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Jan 7 – Jan 21 |
| Palmdale | 8b | Jan 13 – Jan 27 | Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Pomona | 10a | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Jan 15 – Jan 29 |
| Rancho Cucamonga | 10a | Nov 9 – Nov 23 | Jan 11 – Jan 25 |
| Riverside | 10a | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 |
| Roseville | 9b | Dec 28 – Jan 11 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 |
| Sacramento | 9b | Nov 17 – Dec 1 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 |
| Salinas | 9b | Dec 4 – Dec 18 | Feb 5 – Feb 19 |
| San Bernardino | 10a | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Feb 3 – Feb 17 |
| San Diego | 10b | Nov 11 – Nov 25 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| San Francisco | 10a | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | Jan 6 – Jan 20 |
| San Jose | 9b | Nov 7 – Nov 21 | Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Santa Ana | 10b | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Jan 12 – Jan 26 |
| Santa Clarita | 10a | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Jan 15 – Jan 29 |
| Santa Rosa | 9a | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Mar 4 – Mar 18 |
| Stockton | 9b | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 |
| Sunnyvale | 10a | Nov 11 – Nov 25 | Jan 13 – Jan 27 |
| Visalia | 9b | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 |
Calculated from each town's average (50%) frost dates, from the nearest NOAA station (1991–2020). Typical dates for the 2027 planting season, based on NOAA's 1991–2020 averages. They are long-term odds, not a forecast: always check your local forecast before planting. Zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (USDA-ARS and Oregon State University). Not the official map; see planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.
See all frost dates in California, or the general guide to when to plant tomatoes.
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