Frost dates · USDA zone 9b
Frost dates for Fairfield, CA
Fairfield, CA sees its last 32 °F night of spring around January 15 and its first of fall around December 14 — a 336-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 22 (prior winter) | Jan 9 (next year) |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Jan 15 | Dec 14 |
| 1 year in 10 | Feb 16 | Nov 29 |
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: 336 days median, at least 296 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 Dec 31 (prior winter) and first of Dec 24.
Fairfield planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Jan 15) and median first frost (Dec 14) 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 23 | Dec 18 | Apr 7 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Jan 15 | Feb 14 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | Feb 15 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Dec 18 | Jan 29 | Mar 30 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 20 | Jan 22 | Apr 7 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Nov 6 | Jan 29 | May 4 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 20 | Jan 22 | Apr 7 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 20 | Jan 22 | Apr 12 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Nov 20 | Jan 22 | Apr 12 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Jan 1 | Jan 1 | Mar 12 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Dec 4 | Jan 22 | Apr 2 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Dec 4 | Jan 22 | Apr 7 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Dec 4 | Jan 22 | Apr 12 | 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 Fairfield grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Fairfield container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Fairfield frost questions
When is the last frost in Fairfield, CA?
The median last 32 °F freeze at FAIRFIELD, CA is January 15: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after February 16; nine years in ten, it comes after December 22 (prior winter). Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Fairfield, CA?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is December 14. One year in ten it arrives before November 29; nine years in ten, before January 9 (next year).
How long is the growing season in Fairfield, CA?
336 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 296 days; one year in ten, no freeze at all.
What growing zone is Fairfield, CA?
USDA hardiness zone 9b, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 94533. 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 Fairfield, CA?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Dec 4 and transplant around Jan 22, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Feb 16. First ripe fruit lands around Apr 7.
When should I plant peppers in Fairfield, CA?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Nov 20; transplant no earlier than Jan 22, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Apr 7.
Nearby in California
- Vacavillelast frost Feb 18
- Napalast frost Feb 12
- Vallejolast frost Mar 5
- Pittsburglast frost Jan 9
- Concordlast frost Jan 9
- Antiochlast frost Jan 12
All California frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →