Visalia, California: planting zone & frost dates
Visalia 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 Feb 2 and the first fall frost around Dec 6.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Feb 27 | Nov 27 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Feb 2 | Dec 6 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 23 | Dec 13 |
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 VISALIA, CA (USC00049367), 1.6 mi (2.6 km) from the city center and 13 ft lower than the city center (-4 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 24 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Visalia
All 3 ZIP codes covering Visalia are in zone 9b.
Vegetable planting calendar for Visalia
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Feb 2, first frost Dec 6). 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 8 – Dec 22 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Jan 19 – Feb 9 | Jan 5 – Feb 16 | Sep 27 – Oct 25 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Feb 9 – Mar 16 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Feb 9 – Mar 9 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Jan 5 – Jan 12 | Feb 9 – Feb 23 | Feb 9 – Mar 2 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Cucumber | Jan 5 – Jan 12 | Feb 16 – Feb 23 | Feb 9 – Mar 2 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 12 – Feb 16 | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 10 – Nov 24 | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Jan 5 – Jan 26 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 22 – Jan 5 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | Feb 16 – Mar 9 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 22 – Jan 19 | Oct 11 – Nov 8 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Jan 5 – Jan 26 | Jan 5 – Jan 26 | Sep 27 – Oct 25 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Jan 19 – Feb 9 | — | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 22 – Jan 12 | Sep 27 – Oct 11 |
| Eggplant | Nov 24 – Dec 8 | Feb 16 – Mar 2 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 8 – Dec 22 | Jan 5 – Jan 19 | — | Sep 13 – Sep 27 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 29 – Feb 16 | Oct 25 – Nov 22 |
| Strawberry | — | Jan 5 – Jan 26 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 12 – Feb 23 | Sep 27 – Oct 11 |
Nearby cities in California
- Clovis — zone 9b, last frost Jan 29, first frost Dec 6
- Fresno — zone 9b, last frost Jan 29, first frost Dec 6
- Bakersfield — zone 9b, last frost Feb 12, first frost Dec 1
- Merced — zone 9a, last frost Mar 19, first frost Nov 16
- Santa Maria — zone 9b, last frost Feb 18, first frost Dec 5
- Santa Barbara — zone 10b, last frost Jan 27, first frost Dec 29
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
Visalia gardening questions
When is the last frost in Visalia, CA?
Plan around Feb 2. At NOAA's Visalia, CA station, 1.6 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 23, and after Feb 27 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Jan 2. Springs here are erratic: 60 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 Visalia, CA?
Start seeds indoors Dec 8 – Dec 22 and set transplants outside Feb 9 – Feb 23, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 307 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 Visalia?
About 328 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 289 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 359 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 27 and a 30% chance by Dec 6. That ranks 60th longest of 84 California cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Visalia?
Count back from the first fall frost (Dec 6): transplant broccoli Sep 13 – Sep 27; sow kale Sep 27 – Oct 25; sow lettuce Sep 27 – Oct 25; sow radishes Oct 25 – Nov 22. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Dec 25. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Visalia's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Visalia is zone 9b 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 Visalia compare with Clovis, CA?
Both are in zone 9b. The typical last spring frost in Visalia (Feb 2) comes about 4 days later than in Clovis, CA (Jan 29), 40 miles away, and the first fall frost is Dec 6 versus Dec 6. The two cities use different NOAA stations.