Fremont, California: planting zone & frost dates
Fremont is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C). The typical last spring frost is around Jan 8 and the first fall frost around Dec 19.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Jan 22 | Dec 9 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 8 | Dec 19 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 1 | Dec 27 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station NEWARK, CA (USC00046144), 5.2 mi (8.4 km) from the city center and 16 ft lower than the city center (-5 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 27 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Fremont
Fremont spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 5 ZIP codes): 9b (50%), 10a (50%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
Vegetable planting calendar for Fremont
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 8, first frost Dec 19). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | — | — |
| Pepper | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Dec 25 – Jan 15 | Dec 11 – Jan 22 | Oct 10 – Nov 7 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Jan 15 – Feb 19 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Jan 15 – Feb 12 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Dec 11 – Dec 18 | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Jan 15 – Feb 5 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Cucumber | Dec 11 – Dec 18 | Jan 22 – Jan 29 | Jan 15 – Feb 5 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 18 – Jan 22 | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Oct 16 – Oct 30 | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Dec 11 – Jan 1 | — | — |
| Basil | Nov 27 – Dec 11 | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | Jan 22 – Feb 12 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Nov 27 – Dec 25 | Oct 24 – Nov 21 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Dec 11 – Jan 1 | Dec 11 – Jan 1 | Oct 10 – Nov 7 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Dec 25 – Jan 15 | — | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Nov 27 – Dec 18 | Oct 10 – Oct 24 |
| Eggplant | Oct 30 – Nov 13 | Jan 22 – Feb 5 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 13 – Nov 27 | Dec 11 – Dec 25 | — | Sep 26 – Oct 10 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 4 – Jan 22 | Nov 7 – Dec 5 |
| Strawberry | — | Dec 11 – Jan 1 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 18 – Jan 29 | Oct 10 – Oct 24 |
Nearby cities in California
- Milpitas — zone 10a, last frost Jan 26, first frost Dec 12
- Santa Clara — zone 9b, last frost Jan 26, first frost Dec 12
- Sunnyvale — zone 9b, last frost Jan 18, first frost Dec 15
- Mountain View — zone 10a, last frost Jan 18, first frost Dec 15
- Hayward — zone 10a, last frost Jan 12, first frost Dec 17
- San Jose — zone 9b, last frost Jan 10, first frost Dec 14
More: all California cities · other zone 9b cities: Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, San Jose, CA, Fresno, CA, Sacramento, CA, Mesa, AZ, Bakersfield, CA
Fremont gardening questions
When is the last frost in Fremont, CA?
Plan around Jan 8. At NOAA's Newark, CA station, 5.2 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Jan 1, and after Jan 22 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. The 90% and 10% dates are 37 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Fremont, CA?
Start seeds indoors Nov 13 – Nov 27 and set transplants outside Jan 15 – Jan 29, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 345 frost-free days, frost is not the main limit — fruit set drops when nights stay above about 75°F, so early plantings tend to do best. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Fremont?
About 365 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 343 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Dec 9 and a 30% chance by Dec 19. That ranks 4th longest of 84 California cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Fremont?
Count back from the first fall frost (Dec 19): transplant broccoli Sep 26 – Oct 10; sow kale Oct 10 – Nov 7; sow lettuce Oct 10 – Nov 7; sow radishes Nov 7 – Dec 5. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Fremont's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
Yes, but toward colder: Fremont went from zone 10a (2012) to zone 9b (2023). Only about 1% of U.S. ZIP codes moved colder; these changes mostly reflect added weather stations and improved mapping methods rather than a colder climate. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
Is all of Fremont in zone 9b?
No. Zone 9b covers about 50% of the city's land; the rest is in 10a (50%), measured across the city's 5 ZIP codes. Check your own ZIP code in the table above or with the ZIP lookup.