Indio, California: planting zone & frost dates
Indio is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 30 to 35°F (-1.1 to 1.7°C). The typical last spring frost is around Jan 5 and the first fall frost around Dec 17.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Jan 21 | Dec 8 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 5 | Dec 17 |
| Median (50%) | Dec 31 | 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 INDIO FIRE STN, CA (USC00044259), 2.0 mi (3.2 km) from the city center and 23 ft lower than the city center (-7 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 14 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Indio
All 3 ZIP codes covering Indio are in zone 10a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Indio
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 5, first frost Dec 17). 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 10 – Nov 24 | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | — | — |
| Pepper | Oct 27 – Nov 10 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Dec 22 – Jan 12 | Dec 8 – Jan 19 | Oct 8 – Nov 5 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Jan 12 – Feb 16 | Sep 24 – Oct 8 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Jan 12 – Feb 9 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Dec 8 – Dec 15 | Jan 12 – Jan 26 | Jan 12 – Feb 2 | Sep 24 – Oct 8 |
| Cucumber | Dec 8 – Dec 15 | Jan 19 – Jan 26 | Jan 12 – Feb 2 | Sep 24 – Oct 8 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 15 – Jan 19 | Sep 24 – Oct 8 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Oct 13 – Oct 27 | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Dec 8 – Dec 29 | — | — |
| Basil | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | Jan 19 – Feb 9 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Nov 24 – Dec 22 | Oct 22 – Nov 19 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Dec 8 – Dec 29 | Dec 8 – Dec 29 | Oct 8 – Nov 5 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Dec 22 – Jan 12 | — | Sep 24 – Oct 8 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Nov 24 – Dec 15 | Oct 8 – Oct 22 |
| Eggplant | Oct 27 – Nov 10 | Jan 19 – Feb 2 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | — | Sep 24 – Oct 8 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 1 – Jan 19 | Nov 5 – Dec 3 |
| Strawberry | — | Dec 8 – Dec 29 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 15 – Jan 26 | Oct 8 – Oct 22 |
Nearby cities in California
- Hemet — zone 9b, last frost Feb 14, first frost Dec 2
- Temecula — zone 9b, last frost Feb 14, first frost Jan 3
- Menifee — zone 9b, last frost Feb 10, first frost Dec 10
- Murrieta — zone 10a, last frost Feb 14, first frost Jan 3
- Perris — zone 9b, last frost Feb 10, first frost Dec 10
- Moreno Valley — zone 9b, last frost Feb 10, first frost Dec 11
More: all California cities · other zone 10a cities: Los Angeles, CA, Oakland, CA, Tampa, FL, Orlando, FL, Riverside, CA, Corpus Christi, TX, Port St. Lucie, FL, Scottsdale, AZ
Indio gardening questions
When is the last frost in Indio, CA?
Plan around Jan 5. At NOAA's Indio Fire Stn, CA station, 2.0 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 Dec 31, and after Jan 21 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. The 90% and 10% dates are 42 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Indio, CA?
Start seeds indoors Nov 10 – Nov 24 and set transplants outside Jan 12 – Jan 26, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 346 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 Indio?
About 365 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 348 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Dec 8 and a 30% chance by Dec 17. That ranks 23rd longest of 84 California cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Indio?
Count back from the first fall frost (Dec 17): transplant broccoli Sep 24 – Oct 8; sow kale Oct 8 – Nov 5; sow lettuce Oct 8 – Nov 5; sow radishes Nov 5 – Dec 3. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Indio's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
Yes. Most of Indio was zone 9b on the 2012 map and is zone 10a on the 2023 map — half a zone warmer, like about 56% of U.S. ZIP codes. The shift comes from a newer 1991–2020 averaging period plus more weather stations and better mapping; it does not mean last frost comes earlier. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
How does Indio compare with Hemet, CA?
Indio is zone 10a and Hemet is zone 9b. The typical last spring frost in Indio (Jan 5) comes about 40 days earlier than in Hemet, CA (Feb 14), 44 miles away, and the first fall frost is Dec 17 versus Dec 2. Indio sits about 1,534 ft lower, which explains part of the gap. The two cities use different NOAA stations.