Frost dates · USDA zone 9b
Frost dates for Lake Elsinore, CA
Lake Elsinore, CA sees its last 32 °F night of spring around January 28 and its first of fall around December 18 — a 329-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 24 (prior winter) | Jan 24 (next year) |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Jan 28 | Dec 18 |
| 1 year in 10 | Feb 27 | Dec 1 |
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: 329 days median, at least 287 in 9 years of 10, at least 361 days 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 27.
Lake Elsinore planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Jan 28) and median first frost (Dec 18) 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) | Nov 5 | Dec 31 | Apr 20 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Jan 28 | Feb 27 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Jan 14 | Jan 14 | Feb 28 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Dec 31 | Feb 11 | Apr 12 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 3 | Feb 4 | Apr 20 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Nov 19 | Feb 11 | May 17 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 3 | Feb 4 | Apr 20 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 3 | Feb 4 | Apr 25 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 3 | Feb 4 | Apr 25 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Jan 14 | Jan 14 | Mar 25 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Dec 17 | Feb 4 | Apr 15 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Dec 17 | Feb 4 | Apr 20 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Dec 17 | Feb 4 | Apr 25 | 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 Lake Elsinore grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Lake Elsinore container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Lake Elsinore frost questions
When is the last frost in Lake Elsinore, CA?
The median last 32 °F freeze at ELSINORE, CA is January 28: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after February 27; nine years in ten, it comes after December 24 (prior winter). Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Lake Elsinore, CA?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is December 18. One year in ten it arrives before December 1; nine years in ten, before January 24 (next year).
How long is the growing season in Lake Elsinore, CA?
329 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 287 days; one year in ten, at least 361 days.
What growing zone is Lake Elsinore, CA?
USDA hardiness zone 9b, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 92532. 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 Lake Elsinore, CA?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Dec 17 and transplant around Feb 4, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Feb 27. First ripe fruit lands around Apr 20.
When should I plant peppers in Lake Elsinore, CA?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Dec 3; transplant no earlier than Feb 4, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Apr 20.
Nearby in California
- Menifeelast frost Jan 28
- Perrislast frost Jan 10
- Murrietalast frost Feb 2
- Rancho Santa Margaritafrost rare
- Riversidelast frost Jan 9
- Temeculalast frost Feb 2
All California frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →