Frost dates · USDA zone 10a
Frost dates for El Centro, CA
El Centro, CA sees its last 32 °F night of spring around January 3 and its first of fall around December 27 — a 363-day freeze-free season in a typical year.
Pick a sauce; the Plan Builder runs this station's dates and hands back the calendar, plant count and gear list.
Freeze odds, by date
| Odds | Last spring freeze after | First fall freeze before |
|---|---|---|
| 9 years in 10 | Dec 15 (prior winter) | Jan 26 (next year) |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Jan 3 | Dec 27 |
| 1 year in 10 | Feb 4 | Dec 9 |
The top row is the risky edge: in 9 years of 10 a spring freeze still comes after it, so tender transplants set out then need cover. The bottom row is the cautious date — only 1 year in 10 freezes after it — and the one to plan uncovered tender transplants against. Freeze-free season: 363 days median, at least 332 in 9 years of 10, no freeze at all in 1 year of 10. NOAA ranks season length year by year, so it is not the gap between two rows above. A hard freeze (28 °F) has a median last date of Jan 1 and first of Dec 31.
El Centro planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Jan 3) and median first frost (Dec 27) above, using each cultivar's days to maturity. Same engine as the Plan Builder.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant | First harvest | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardneck GarlicSiberian (porcelain hardneck) | — | Oct 15prior fall | Jun 12 | 240 from sow |
| Spanish OnionYellow Sweet Spanish (long-day) | Oct 11 | Dec 6 | Mar 26 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Jan 3 | Feb 2 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Dec 20 | Dec 20 | Feb 3 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Dec 6 | Jan 17 | Mar 18 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 8 | Jan 10 | Mar 26 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Oct 25 | Jan 17 | Apr 22 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 8 | Jan 10 | Mar 26 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 8 | Jan 10 | Mar 31 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 8 | Jan 10 | Mar 31 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Dec 20 | Dec 20 | Feb 28 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Nov 22 | Jan 10 | Mar 21 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Nov 22 | Jan 10 | Mar 26 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Nov 22 | Jan 10 | Mar 31 | 80 from transplant |
Tight means first harvest lands within two weeks of the median first fall frost: start that crop indoors on time or cover it in fall.
What sauce can El Centro grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a El Centro container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
El Centro frost questions
When is the last frost in El Centro, CA?
The median last 32 °F freeze at EL CENTRO 2 SSW, CA is January 3: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after February 4; nine years in ten, it comes after December 15 (prior winter). Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in El Centro, CA?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is December 27. One year in ten it arrives before December 9; nine years in ten, before January 26 (next year).
How long is the growing season in El Centro, CA?
363 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 332 days; one year in ten, no freeze at all.
What growing zone is El Centro, CA?
USDA hardiness zone 10a, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 92243. A zone describes the coldest winter night, not when frost ends, so it is the wrong number for a planting calendar — the frost dates on this page are the right one.
When should I plant tomatoes in El Centro, CA?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Nov 22 and transplant around Jan 10, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Feb 4. First ripe fruit lands around Mar 26.
When should I plant peppers in El Centro, CA?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Nov 8; transplant no earlier than Jan 10, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Mar 26.
Nearby in California
- Coachellalast frost Feb 7
- Indiolast frost Dec 31
- Palm Desertlast frost Dec 31
- El Cajonlast frost Jan 6
- Santeelast frost Jan 6
- La Mesalast frost Jan 6
All California frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →