Tracy, CA planting zone & frost dates
Tracy is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost usually comes around February 25 and the first fall frost around November 26, for a growing season of about 272 days.
Planting calendar for Tracy
Dates are counted from the average last spring frost (February 25) 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 31 – Jan 14 Transplant outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 11 |
| Peppers | Start seeds indoors: Dec 17 – Dec 31 Transplant outdoors: Mar 11 – Mar 18 |
| Eggplant | Start seeds indoors: Dec 17 – Dec 31 Transplant outdoors: Mar 11 – Mar 18 |
| Broccoli | Start seeds indoors: Dec 17 – Dec 31 Transplant outdoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Cabbage | Start seeds indoors: Dec 17 – Dec 31 Transplant outdoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Onions (sets) | Plant outdoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Peas | Sow outdoors: Jan 14 – Jan 28 |
| Spinach | Sow outdoors: Jan 14 – Jan 28 |
| Lettuce | Sow outdoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Carrots | Sow outdoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Potatoes | Plant outdoors: Jan 28 – Feb 11 |
| Beans | Sow outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 11 |
| Sweet corn | Sow outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 11 |
| Cucumbers | Sow outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 11 |
| Squash & zucchini | Sow outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 11 |
| Basil | Start seeds indoors: Jan 14 – Jan 28 Transplant outdoors: Mar 4 – Mar 11 |
Fall garden: cool-season crops like lettuce, spinach and kale can be sown again around Oct 1 (8 weeks before the average first fall frost on Nov 26).
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 | Jan 24 | Feb 25 | Apr 6 |
| First 32°F frost in fall is before | Dec 12 | Nov 26 | Nov 8 |
How to read it: in spring there is a 10% chance of a frost after April 6, so that is a safe date for tender plants. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost before November 8. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends around January 18.
Hardiness zone by ZIP code in Tracy
- 95304 zone 9b
- 95376 zone 9b
- 95377 zone 9b
- 95378 zone 9b
- 95391 zone 9b
Nearby cities
- Lathrop zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Manteca zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Discovery Bay zone 9b, last frost Jan 19
- Stockton zone 9b, last frost Feb 5
- Garden Acres zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Ripon zone 9b, last frost Feb 6
- Brentwood zone 9b, last frost Jan 12
- Salida zone 9b, last frost Jan 31
Questions
What growing zone is Tracy, CA?
Tracy 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 Tracy?
The average last spring frost (32°F) in Tracy is February 25. There is still a 10% chance of frost until April 6.
When can I plant tomatoes in Tracy?
Transplant tomatoes outdoors 1–2 weeks after the average last frost: around Mar 4 – Mar 11. Start seeds indoors 6–8 weeks before the last frost.
Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station Tracy Carbona, CA (USC00048999), 9.5 km (5.9 mi) from the city center, elevation 41 m, based on 23 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.