Tehachapi, CA planting zone & frost dates
Tehachapi is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. The last spring frost usually comes around April 28 and the first fall frost around October 26, for a growing season of about 183 days.
Planting calendar for Tehachapi
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (April 28) 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: Mar 3 – Mar 17 Transplant outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: May 12 – May 19 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: May 12 – May 19 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Feb 17 – Mar 3 Transplant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Mar 17 – Mar 31 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Mar 31 – Apr 14 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Mar 17 – Mar 31 Transplant outdoors: May 5 – May 12 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Aug 31 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Oct 26).
Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Apr 11 | Apr 28 | May 21 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Nov 17 | Oct 26 | Oct 4 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after May 21, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before October 4. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around April 12.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Tehachapi
- 93561 zone 8b
- 93581 zone 8b
Nearby cities
- Arvin zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Rosamond zone 8b, last frost Apr 3
- California City zone 8b, last frost Mar 15
- Lamont zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Lancaster zone 8b, last frost Apr 3
- Quartz Hill zone 9a, last frost Apr 3
- Bakersfield zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
- Oildale zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
Questions
What growing zone is Tehachapi, CA?
Tehachapi is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 8b (average extreme winter low 15°F to 20°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Tehachapi?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Tehachapi is April 28. There is still a 10% chance of frost until May 21.
When can I plant tomatoes in Tehachapi?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around May 5 – May 12. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Tehachapi 4 Se, CA (USC00048829), 4.2 km (2.6 mi) from the city center, elevation 1286 m, based on 16 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.