Arcata, CA planting zone & frost dates
Arcata is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost usually comes around February 22 and the first fall frost around December 7, for a growing season of about 293 days.
Planting calendar for Arcata
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (February 22) using the typical timing recommended by U.S. extension services. Warm-season crops go out only after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed.
| Crop | When |
|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Start seeds indoors: Dec 28 – Jan 11 Transplant outdoors: Mar 1 – Mar 8 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Dec 14 – Dec 28 Transplant outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 15 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Dec 14 – Dec 28 Transplant outdoors: Mar 8 – Mar 15 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Dec 14 – Dec 28 Transplant outdoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Dec 14 – Dec 28 Transplant outdoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Jan 11 – Jan 25 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Jan 11 – Jan 25 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Jan 25 – Feb 8 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Mar 1 – Mar 8 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 1 – Mar 8 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Mar 1 – Mar 8 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Mar 1 – Mar 8 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Jan 11 – Jan 25 Transplant outdoors: Mar 1 – Mar 8 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 12 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Dec 7).
Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Dec 31 | Feb 22 | Mar 23 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Jan 11 | Dec 7 | Nov 15 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after March 23, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 15. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around January 3.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Arcata
- 95518 zone 9b
- 95521 zone 9b
Nearby cities
- Bayside zone 9b, last frost Feb 22
- McKinleyville zone 9b, last frost Mar 8
- Eureka zone 9b, last frost Feb 22
- Fortuna zone 9b, last frost Feb 1
- Redding zone 9b, last frost Mar 3
- Shasta Lake zone 9b, last frost Feb 8
- Anderson zone 9a, last frost Mar 3
- Ukiah zone 9a, last frost Mar 19
Questions
What growing zone is Arcata, CA?
Arcata is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b (average extreme winter low 25°F to 30°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Arcata?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Arcata is February 22. There is still a 10% chance of frost until March 23.
When can I plant tomatoes in Arcata?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Mar 1 – Mar 8. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Eureka Wfo Woodley Island, CA (USW00024213), 9.1 km (5.7 mi) from the city center, elevation 6 m, based on 29 years of records. Hardiness zone: USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map 2023 for the ZIP code nearest to the city center. Microclimates (valleys, hills, cities, coasts) can be warmer or colder: check the local forecast before planting. How we calculate the data.