Frost dates · USDA zone 9b
Frost dates for Santa Cruz, CA
Santa Cruz, CA sees its last 32 °F night of spring around January 29 and its first of fall around December 13 — a 323-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 25 (prior winter) | Jan 22 (next year) |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Jan 29 | Dec 13 |
| 1 year in 10 | Feb 28 | Nov 23 |
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: 323 days median, at least 278 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 3 and first of Dec 27.
Santa Cruz planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Jan 29) and median first frost (Dec 13) 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 6 | Jan 1 | Apr 21 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Jan 29 | Feb 28 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 1 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Jan 1 | Feb 12 | Apr 13 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 4 | Feb 5 | Apr 21 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Nov 20 | Feb 12 | May 18 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 4 | Feb 5 | Apr 21 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 4 | Feb 5 | Apr 26 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 4 | Feb 5 | Apr 26 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Jan 15 | Jan 15 | Mar 26 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Dec 18 | Feb 5 | Apr 16 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Dec 18 | Feb 5 | Apr 21 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Dec 18 | Feb 5 | Apr 26 | 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 Santa Cruz grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Santa Cruz container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Santa Cruz frost questions
When is the last frost in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median last 32 °F freeze at SANTA CRUZ, CA is January 29: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after February 28; nine years in ten, it comes after December 25 (prior winter). Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Santa Cruz, CA?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is December 13. One year in ten it arrives before November 23; nine years in ten, before January 22 (next year).
How long is the growing season in Santa Cruz, CA?
323 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 278 days; one year in ten, at least 361 days.
What growing zone is Santa Cruz, CA?
USDA hardiness zone 9b, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 95064. 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 Santa Cruz, CA?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Dec 18 and transplant around Feb 5, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Feb 28. First ripe fruit lands around Apr 21.
When should I plant peppers in Santa Cruz, CA?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Dec 4; transplant no earlier than Feb 5, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around Apr 21.
Nearby in California
- Watsonvillelast frost Jan 31
- Campbelllast frost Feb 2
- Cupertinolast frost Mar 21
- Morgan Hilllast frost Feb 24
- Gilroylast frost Feb 24
- San Joselast frost Jan 2
All California frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →