When to plant · 202 cities · zones 8a–11a
When to plant carrots in California
Direct sow nantes carrot around Jan 24 — the California statewide median, counted from a last spring frost of Feb 7 across 1,426 ZIP codes and 311 NOAA stations.
The rule: Direct sow two weeks before the last frost and keep the top half-inch of soil damp for the 14–21 days it takes to germinate.
California carrots, by step
Statewide median last frost Feb 7, first fall frost Dec 7, 2027 season. Each cultivar's own indoor lead time and days to maturity, same engine as the Plan Builder.
| Cultivar | Start indoors | Sow | First harvest | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Direct sow | Jan 24 | Apr 4 | 70 from sow |
Tight means first harvest lands within two weeks of the median first fall frost. Statewide dates are the ZIP-weighted median of every NOAA 1991–2020 station California's ZIP codes resolve to; 375 of 1,801 ZIPs have no datable freeze and are left out.
Carrots in California, city by city
Nantes Carrot, scheduled from each city's nearest NOAA station — the same dates as its frost page.
| City | Last frost | Sow | First harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeleszone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| San Diegozone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| San Josezone 9b | Jan 2 | Dec 19 | Feb 27 |
| Fresnozone 9b | Jan 14 | Dec 31 | Mar 11 |
| Sacramentozone 9b | Jan 12 | Dec 29 | Mar 9 |
| Long Beachzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Oaklandzone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Bakersfieldzone 9b | Jan 31 | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Anaheimzone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Stocktonzone 9b | Feb 5 | Jan 22 | Apr 2 |
| Riversidezone 10a | Jan 9 | Dec 26 | Mar 6 |
| Irvinezone 10a | Jan 5 | Dec 22 | Mar 2 |
| Santa Anazone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Chula Vistazone 10b | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| Santa Claritazone 10a | Jan 8 | Dec 25 | Mar 5 |
| Fremontzone 10a | Jan 1 | Dec 18 | Feb 26 |
| San Bernardinozone 10a | May 5 | Apr 21 | Jun 30 |
| Modestozone 9b | Jan 31 | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Fontanazone 10a | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Moreno Valleyzone 9b | Jan 10 | Dec 27 | Mar 7 |
| Oxnardzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Huntington Beachzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Glendalezone 10a | Jan 8 | Dec 25 | Mar 5 |
| Ontariozone 10a | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Elk Grovezone 9b | Feb 2 | Jan 19 | Mar 30 |
| Santa Rosazone 9a | Feb 25 | Feb 11 | Apr 22 |
| Rancho Cucamongazone 10a | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Garden Grovezone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Oceansidezone 10a | Jan 23 | Jan 9 | Mar 20 |
| Lancasterzone 8a | Apr 3 | Mar 20 | May 29 |
| Rosevillezone 9b | Feb 25 | Feb 11 | Apr 22 |
| Palmdalezone 8b | Mar 10 | Feb 24 | May 5 |
| Coronazone 10a | Jan 17 | Jan 3 | Mar 14 |
| Salinaszone 9b | Jan 29 | Jan 15 | Mar 26 |
| Haywardzone 10a | Jan 2 | Dec 19 | Feb 27 |
| Sunnyvalezone 10a | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| Escondidozone 10a | Jan 2 | Dec 19 | Feb 27 |
| Pomonazone 10a | Jan 8 | Dec 25 | Mar 5 |
| Visaliazone 9b | Jan 23 | Jan 9 | Mar 20 |
| Victorvillezone 8b | Mar 18 | Mar 4 | May 13 |
| Fullertonzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Torrancezone 10b | Jan 9 | Dec 26 | Mar 6 |
| Orangezone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Pasadenazone 10a | Jan 8 | Dec 25 | Mar 5 |
| Santa Clarazone 9b | Jan 12 | Dec 29 | Mar 9 |
| Cloviszone 9b | Jan 14 | Dec 31 | Mar 11 |
| Simi Valleyzone 10a | Jan 24 | Jan 10 | Mar 21 |
| Thousand Oakszone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Concordzone 9b | Jan 9 | Dec 26 | Mar 6 |
| Vallejozone 9b | Mar 5 | Feb 19 | Apr 30 |
| Fairfieldzone 9b | Jan 15 | Jan 1 | Mar 12 |
| Berkeleyzone 10a | Jan 3 | Dec 20 | Feb 28 |
| Antiochzone 9b | Jan 12 | Dec 29 | Mar 9 |
| Menifeezone 9b | Jan 28 | Jan 14 | Mar 25 |
| Richmondzone 10a | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Carlsbadzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Murrietazone 9b | Feb 2 | Jan 19 | Mar 30 |
| Temeculazone 9b | Feb 2 | Jan 19 | Mar 30 |
| Santa Mariazone 9b | Feb 4 | Jan 21 | Apr 1 |
| San Buenaventura (Ventura)zone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Downeyzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Costa Mesazone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Jurupa Valleyzone 10a | Jan 9 | Dec 26 | Mar 6 |
| West Covinazone 10a | Jan 8 | Dec 25 | Mar 5 |
| Rialtozone 10a | Jan 10 | Dec 27 | Mar 7 |
| El Montezone 10b | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Vacavillezone 9b | Feb 18 | Feb 4 | Apr 15 |
| Burbankzone 10a | Jan 2 | Dec 19 | Feb 27 |
| El Cajonzone 10a | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| San Mateozone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Chicozone 9b | Mar 4 | Feb 18 | Apr 29 |
| Inglewoodzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Hesperiazone 8b | May 5 | Apr 21 | Jun 30 |
| Daly Cityzone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Tracyzone 9b | Jan 19 | Jan 5 | Mar 16 |
| Vistazone 10a | Jan 30 | Jan 16 | Mar 27 |
| Norwalkzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| San Marcoszone 10a | Jan 2 | Dec 19 | Feb 27 |
| Mercedzone 9a | Mar 3 | Feb 17 | Apr 28 |
| Mantecazone 9b | Feb 6 | Jan 23 | Apr 3 |
| Indiozone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Chinozone 9b | Jan 17 | Jan 3 | Mar 14 |
| Reddingzone 9a | Mar 3 | Feb 17 | Apr 28 |
| Hemetzone 9b | Jan 31 | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Mission Viejozone 10b | Jan 5 | Dec 22 | Mar 2 |
| Carsonzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Comptonzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| South Gatezone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Santa Monicazone 11a | frost rare | Jan 1 | Mar 12 |
| Westminsterzone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Folsomzone 9b | Jan 12 | Dec 29 | Mar 9 |
| Mountain Viewzone 9b | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| Santa Barbarazone 10b | Jan 13 | Dec 30 | Mar 10 |
| Lake Forestzone 10b | Jan 5 | Dec 22 | Mar 2 |
| Citrus Heightszone 9b | Jan 12 | Dec 29 | Mar 9 |
| San Leandrozone 10a | Jan 7 | Dec 24 | Mar 4 |
| San Ramonzone 9b | Feb 15 | Feb 1 | Apr 12 |
| Whittierzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Livermorezone 9b | Feb 15 | Feb 1 | Apr 12 |
| Rancho Cordovazone 9b | Jan 12 | Dec 29 | Mar 9 |
| Hawthornezone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Perriszone 9b | Jan 10 | Dec 27 | Mar 7 |
| Redwood Cityzone 10a | Jan 17 | Jan 3 | Mar 14 |
| Newport Beachzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Buena Parkzone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Alhambrazone 10a | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Milpitaszone 10a | Jan 12 | Dec 29 | Mar 9 |
| Uplandzone 10a | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Tustinzone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Alamedazone 10a | Jan 7 | Dec 24 | Mar 4 |
| Lakewoodzone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Chino Hillszone 10a | Jan 17 | Jan 3 | Mar 14 |
| Pittsburgzone 9b | Jan 9 | Dec 26 | Mar 6 |
| Napazone 9b | Feb 12 | Jan 29 | Apr 9 |
| Bellflowerzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Pleasantonzone 9b | Feb 15 | Feb 1 | Apr 12 |
| Rocklinzone 9b | Feb 25 | Feb 11 | Apr 22 |
| Apple Valleyzone 8b | Mar 18 | Mar 4 | May 13 |
| Redlandszone 10a | Jan 27 | Jan 13 | Mar 24 |
| Lake Elsinorezone 9b | Jan 28 | Jan 14 | Mar 25 |
| Turlockzone 9b | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| Tularezone 9b | Jan 23 | Jan 9 | Mar 20 |
| Walnut Creekzone 9b | Mar 8 | Feb 22 | May 3 |
| Eastvalezone 10a | Jan 17 | Jan 3 | Mar 14 |
| Dublinzone 9b | Feb 15 | Feb 1 | Apr 12 |
| Camarillozone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Baldwin Parkzone 10a | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Yuba Cityzone 9b | Feb 11 | Jan 28 | Apr 8 |
| Maderazone 9b | Feb 12 | Jan 29 | Apr 9 |
| Lodizone 9b | Feb 9 | Jan 26 | Apr 6 |
| Redondo Beachzone 11a | frost rare | Jan 1 | Mar 12 |
| Palo Altozone 9b | Feb 1 | Jan 18 | Mar 29 |
| Daviszone 9b | Feb 10 | Jan 27 | Apr 7 |
| Yorba Lindazone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Brentwoodzone 9b | Jan 12 | Dec 29 | Mar 9 |
| Union Cityzone 9b | Jan 2 | Dec 19 | Feb 27 |
| South San Franciscozone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Laguna Niguelzone 10b | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| Lynwoodzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Portervillezone 9b | Feb 20 | Feb 6 | Apr 17 |
| Woodlandzone 9b | Feb 7 | Jan 24 | Apr 4 |
| San Clementezone 10b | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| Santa Cruzzone 9b | Jan 29 | Jan 15 | Mar 26 |
| La Habrazone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Encinitaszone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| La Mesazone 10b | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| Montebellozone 10b | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Hanfordzone 9a | Feb 7 | Jan 24 | Apr 4 |
| Gilroyzone 9b | Feb 24 | Feb 10 | Apr 21 |
| San Rafaelzone 10a | Jan 11 | Dec 28 | Mar 8 |
| Beaumontzone 9b | Jan 31 | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Petalumazone 9b | Feb 28 | Feb 14 | Apr 25 |
| Pico Riverazone 10b | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Santeezone 10a | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| Gardenazone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Cupertinozone 9b | Mar 21 | Mar 7 | May 16 |
| National Cityzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Monterey Parkzone 10b | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Highlandzone 10a | Jan 27 | Jan 13 | Mar 24 |
| Lincolnzone 9a | Feb 25 | Feb 11 | Apr 22 |
| Fountain Valleyzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| West Sacramentozone 9b | Feb 2 | Jan 19 | Mar 30 |
| San Jacintozone 9b | Jan 31 | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Arcadiazone 10a | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Yucaipazone 9b | Jan 27 | Jan 13 | Mar 24 |
| Coltonzone 10a | Jan 10 | Dec 27 | Mar 7 |
| Placentiazone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Delanozone 9b | Jan 31 | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Palm Desertzone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Cathedral Cityzone 10a | Jan 9 | Dec 26 | Mar 6 |
| Novatozone 9b | Jan 11 | Dec 28 | Mar 8 |
| Diamond Barzone 10a | Jan 8 | Dec 25 | Mar 5 |
| Huntington Parkzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Watsonvillezone 9b | Jan 31 | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Paramountzone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Aliso Viejozone 10b | Jan 6 | Dec 23 | Mar 3 |
| Glendorazone 10a | Jan 8 | Dec 25 | Mar 5 |
| San Luis Obispozone 9b | Jan 16 | Jan 2 | Mar 13 |
| Rosemeadzone 10b | Jan 4 | Dec 21 | Mar 1 |
| Powayzone 10a | Mar 4 | Feb 18 | Apr 29 |
| Cypresszone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Cereszone 9b | Jan 31 | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Covinazone 10a | Jan 8 | Dec 25 | Mar 5 |
| Los Banoszone 9a | Jan 26 | Jan 12 | Mar 23 |
| Azusazone 10a | Apr 28 | Apr 14 | Jun 23 |
| Breazone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Oakleyzone 9b | Jan 12 | Dec 29 | Mar 9 |
| Cerritoszone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| La Miradazone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Rancho Santa Margaritazone 10b | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
| Newarkzone 10a | Jan 1 | Dec 18 | Feb 26 |
| Morgan Hillzone 9b | Feb 24 | Feb 10 | Apr 21 |
| Palm Springszone 10a | Jan 9 | Dec 26 | Mar 6 |
| Coachellazone 10a | Feb 7 | Jan 24 | Apr 4 |
| Hollisterzone 9b | Feb 19 | Feb 5 | Apr 16 |
| Rohnert Parkzone 9a | Feb 28 | Feb 14 | Apr 25 |
| El Centrozone 10a | Jan 3 | Dec 20 | Feb 28 |
| Lompoczone 10a | Jan 20 | Jan 6 | Mar 17 |
| Danvillezone 9b | Mar 8 | Feb 22 | May 3 |
| Campbellzone 9b | Feb 2 | Jan 19 | Mar 30 |
| San Brunozone 10a | Jan 11 | Dec 28 | Mar 8 |
| Stantonzone 10a | frost rare | Jan 17 | Mar 28 |
What California carrots need
Scarlet Nantes Carrot Seed
The carrot that makes a fermented habanero sauce work. It brings sweetness and body so the sauce has texture without thickener and heat without being one-dimensional.
Organic Seed Starter Potting MixMust have
Seed-starting mix is not potting soil with a nicer label — it is finer, lighter, and low in nutrients on purpose, because a seedling's first roots want air and moisture, not fertiliser.
Ocean Forest Potting SoilMust have
Pre-charged with enough nutrition to carry a transplant for its first month without feeding, which is exactly the window when most container plants stall.
5-Gallon Fabric Grow Bags, 5-Pack
Fabric pots air-prune roots and drain faster than a plastic pot can, which is the entire reason container tomatoes fail. Five gallons is the honest minimum for a pepper; a tomato wants ten.
Rapitest Soil Test Kit
In-ground growers are guessing until they test. pH outside 6.0–6.8 locks nutrients out no matter how much fertiliser you add, and no amount of feeding fixes that.
3-in-1 Soil Moisture / Light / pH Tester
Used for one thing — is the root zone actually dry six inches down — it prevents both halves of the most common container failure. Ignore the pH scale on it entirely.
Garden Harvest Basket with Tool Caddy
A harvest basket that doubles as a colander means the hose rinse happens in the garden, and the dirt stays outside. On a 20-pound tomato day that is a genuine time saving.
Paid links. We earn a commission from Amazon if you buy; you pay the same. Disclosure.
Carrots in California: questions
When should I plant carrots in California?
Direct sow around Jan 24 at the statewide median; across the state that date runs from Dec 22 in the warmest tenth of California's ZIP codes to Apr 20 in the coldest. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, count from Mar 12 instead of the median last frost. Use the city table for your own town.
When is the last frost in California?
The ZIP-weighted median of NOAA 1991–2020 station medians is Feb 7. In the warmest tenth of California's ZIP codes the median last frost falls on or before Jan 5; in the coldest tenth, on or after May 4.
When will California carrots be ready to harvest?
Nantes Carrot planted on the statewide date is ready around Apr 4: 70 days from sow.
More for California
- When to plant tomatoes
- When to plant peppers
- When to plant tomatillos
- When to plant basil
- When to plant onions
- When to plant cilantro
- When to plant mustard greens
Carrots in every state → · California frost dates → · How frost-date math works →