Bakersfield, CA planting zone & frost dates
Bakersfield is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost usually comes around January 31 and the first fall frost around December 8, for a growing season of about 312 days.
Planting calendar for Bakersfield
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (January 31) 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: Dec 6 – Dec 20 Transplant outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 21 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Feb 14 – Feb 21 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Nov 22 – Dec 6 Transplant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Jan 3 – Jan 17 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Dec 20 – Jan 3 Transplant outdoors: Feb 7 – Feb 14 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 13 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Dec 8).
Useful for zone 9b gardens
- Seed starting kit with dome — to start seeds indoors before the last frost
- LED grow light for seedlings — stops leggy seedlings
- Frost cloth / plant covers — for late spring and early fall frosts
- Soil thermometer — warm-season crops need soil above 60°F
- Shade cloth — for hot summers
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Frost risk in detail
| 90% chance | 50% chance | 10% chance | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Last 32°F frost in spring is after | Dec 31 | Jan 31 | Feb 27 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Jan 1 | Dec 8 | Nov 23 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after February 27, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 23. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around January 3.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Bakersfield
- 93301 zone 9b
- 93302 zone 9b
- 93303 zone 9b
- 93304 zone 9b
- 93305 zone 9b
- 93306 zone 9b
- 93307 zone 9b
- 93308 zone 9b
- 93309 zone 9b
- 93311 zone 9b
- 93312 zone 9b
- 93313 zone 9b
- 93314 zone 9b
- 93380 zone 9b
- 93383 zone 9b
- 93384 zone 9b
- 93385 zone 9b
- 93386 zone 9b
- 93387 zone 9b
- 93388 zone 9b
- 93389 zone 9b
- 93390 zone 9b
Nearby cities
Questions
What growing zone is Bakersfield, CA?
Bakersfield is in USDA Plant Hardiness Zone 9b (average extreme winter low 25°F to 30°F), according to the USDA 2023 map.
When is the last frost in Bakersfield?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Bakersfield is January 31. There is still a 10% chance of frost until February 27.
When can I plant tomatoes in Bakersfield?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Feb 7 – Feb 14. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Bakersfield 5 Nw, CA (USC00040444), 5.8 km (3.6 mi) from the city center, elevation 143 m, based on 14 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.