Exeter, CA planting zone & frost dates
Exeter is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost usually comes around February 20 and the first fall frost around November 30, for a growing season of about 284 days.
Planting calendar for Exeter
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (February 20) 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 26 – Jan 9 Transplant outdoors: Feb 27 – Mar 6 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Dec 12 – Dec 26 Transplant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 13 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Dec 12 – Dec 26 Transplant outdoors: Mar 6 – Mar 13 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Dec 12 – Dec 26 Transplant outdoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Dec 12 – Dec 26 Transplant outdoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Jan 9 – Jan 23 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Jan 23 – Feb 6 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Feb 27 – Mar 6 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Feb 27 – Mar 6 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Feb 27 – Mar 6 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Feb 27 – Mar 6 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Jan 9 – Jan 23 Transplant outdoors: Feb 27 – Mar 6 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 5 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 30).
Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Jan 20 | Feb 20 | Mar 26 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Dec 21 | Nov 30 | Nov 15 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after March 26, 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 20.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Exeter
- 93221 zone 9b
Nearby cities
- Farmersville zone 9b, last frost Jan 23
- Lindsay zone 9b, last frost Feb 20
- Visalia zone 9b, last frost Jan 23
- Tulare zone 9b, last frost Jan 23
- Porterville zone 9b, last frost Jan 20
- Dinuba zone 9b, last frost Jan 23
- Reedley zone 9b, last frost Jan 30
- Corcoran zone 9a, last frost Feb 15
Questions
What growing zone is Exeter, CA?
Exeter 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 Exeter?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Exeter is February 20. There is still a 10% chance of frost until March 26.
When can I plant tomatoes in Exeter?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Feb 27 – Mar 6. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Lindsay, CA (USC00044957), 13.0 km (8.1 mi) from the city center, elevation 133 m, based on 21 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.