Brawley, CA planting zone & frost dates

Brawley is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost usually comes around January 16 and the first fall frost around December 19, for a growing season of about 335 days.

USDA hardiness zone9bavg. extreme winter low 25°F to 30°F

Average last spring frostJanuary 1690% chance of no frost after February 17

Average first fall frostDecember 1910% chance of frost by December 2

Growing season335 daysfrost-free days in an average year

Planting calendar for Brawley

Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (January 16) 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: Nov 21 – Dec 5 Transplant outdoors: Jan 23 – Jan 30
Peppers	Start seeds indoors: Nov 7 – Nov 21 Transplant outdoors: Jan 30 – Feb 6
Eggplant	Start seeds indoors: Nov 7 – Nov 21 Transplant outdoors: Jan 30 – Feb 6
Broccoli	Start seeds indoors: Nov 7 – Nov 21 Transplant outdoors: Dec 19 – Jan 2
Cabbage	Start seeds indoors: Nov 7 – Nov 21 Transplant outdoors: Dec 19 – Jan 2
Onions (sets)	Plant outdoors: Dec 19 – Jan 2
Peas	Sow outdoors: Dec 5 – Dec 19
Spinach	Sow outdoors: Dec 5 – Dec 19
Lettuce	Sow outdoors: Dec 19 – Jan 2
Carrots	Sow outdoors: Dec 19 – Jan 2
Potatoes	Plant outdoors: Dec 19 – Jan 2
Beans	Sow outdoors: Jan 23 – Jan 30
Sweet corn	Sow outdoors: Jan 23 – Jan 30
Cucumbers	Sow outdoors: Jan 23 – Jan 30
Squash & zucchini	Sow outdoors: Jan 23 – Jan 30
Basil	Start seeds indoors: Dec 5 – Dec 19 Transplant outdoors: Jan 23 – Jan 30

Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 24 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Dec 19).

Frost risk in detail

	90% chance	50% chance	10% chance
Last 32°F frost in spring is after	Dec 21	Jan 16	Feb 17
First 32°F frost in fall is before	Jan 17	Dec 19	Dec 2

How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after February 17, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before December 2. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around January 2.

Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Brawley

92227 zone 10a

Nearby cities

Imperial zone 10a
El Centro zone 10a
Calexico zone 10a
Coachella zone 10a
Indio zone 10a
La Quinta zone 10a
Palm Desert zone 10a
Blythe zone 9b, last frost Jan 25

All cities in California → · Other zone 9b cities →

Questions

What growing zone is Brawley, CA?

Brawley is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b (average extreme winter low 25°F to 30°F), according to the USDA 2023 map. Some ZIP codes of the city fall in zone 10a.

When is the last frost in Brawley?

The average last spring frost (32°F) in Brawley is January 16. There is still a 10% chance of frost until February 17.

When can I plant tomatoes in Brawley?

Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Jan 23 – Jan 30. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.

Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Brawley 2 Sw, CA (USC00041048), 3.7 km (2.3 mi) from the city center, elevation -30 m, based on 13 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.