Torrance, California: planting zone & frost dates
Torrance is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 35 to 40°F (1.7 to 4.4°C). The typical last spring frost is around Jan 27 and the first fall frost around Dec 16.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Feb 24 | Dec 3 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 27 | Dec 16 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 9 | Jan 5 |
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 TORRANCE AP, CA (USW00003122), 2.2 mi (3.5 km) from the city center and 3 ft higher than the city center (+1 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 20 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Torrance
All 5 ZIP codes covering Torrance are in zone 10b.
Vegetable planting calendar for Torrance
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 27, first frost Dec 16). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 16 – Dec 30 | Jan 13 – Feb 3 | Dec 30 – Feb 10 | Oct 7 – Nov 4 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Feb 3 – Mar 10 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Feb 3 – Mar 3 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Dec 30 – Jan 6 | Feb 3 – Feb 17 | Feb 3 – Feb 24 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Cucumber | Dec 30 – Jan 6 | Feb 10 – Feb 17 | Feb 3 – Feb 24 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 6 – Feb 10 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Dec 30 – Jan 20 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 16 – Dec 30 | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | Feb 10 – Mar 3 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 16 – Jan 13 | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Dec 30 – Jan 20 | Dec 30 – Jan 20 | Oct 7 – Nov 4 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Jan 13 – Feb 3 | — | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 16 – Jan 6 | Oct 7 – Oct 21 |
| Eggplant | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | Feb 10 – Feb 24 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 2 – Dec 16 | Dec 30 – Jan 13 | — | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 23 – Feb 10 | Nov 4 – Dec 2 |
| Strawberry | — | Dec 30 – Jan 20 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 6 – Feb 17 | Oct 7 – Oct 21 |
Nearby cities in California
- Hawthorne — zone 10b, frost rare
- Carson — zone 10b, frost rare
- Inglewood — zone 10b, frost rare
- Compton — zone 10b, frost rare
- Long Beach — zone 10b, frost rare
- Los Angeles — zone 10a, frost rare
More: all California cities · other zone 10b cities: San Diego, CA, San Francisco, CA, Long Beach, CA, Anaheim, CA, Irvine, CA, Santa Ana, CA, Chula Vista, CA, St. Petersburg, FL
Torrance gardening questions
When is the last frost in Torrance, CA?
Plan around Jan 27. At NOAA's Torrance Airport, CA station, 2.2 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 9, and after Feb 24 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. Springs here are erratic: 82 days separate the 90% and 10% dates, versus a median of 36 days for cities on this site, so watch the forecast rather than the calendar.
When should I plant tomatoes in Torrance, CA?
Start seeds indoors Dec 2 – Dec 16 and set transplants outside Feb 3 – Feb 17, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 323 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 Torrance?
About 365 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 364 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Dec 3 and a 30% chance by Dec 16. That ranks 11th longest of 84 California cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Torrance?
Count back from the first fall frost (Dec 16): transplant broccoli Sep 23 – Oct 7; sow kale Oct 7 – Nov 4; sow lettuce Oct 7 – Nov 4; sow radishes Nov 4 – Dec 2. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Torrance's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Torrance is zone 10b on both the 2012 and the 2023 USDA maps (PRISM/OSU ZIP listings). About 42% of U.S. ZIP codes kept their half-zone in 2023. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
How does Torrance compare with Hawthorne, CA?
Both are in zone 10b. Frost is rare in Hawthorne, but Torrance (6 miles away) has a typical last frost around Jan 27 — see Hawthorne, CA.