When to plant Tomatoes in California
In spring, from Feb 1 – Apr 1 in Agoura Hills to June 15 – 30 in Truckee.
For a fall crop, from June 1 – July 15 in Adelanto to Sept 1 – Nov 1 in Yucaipa.
USDA's earliest safe spring and latest safe fall planting dates, matched to each place's average frost dates.
| Place | Spring | Fall |
|---|---|---|
| Adelanto | Apr 1 – May 20 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Agoura Hills | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Alameda | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Albany | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Alhambra | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Aliso Viejo | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| American Canyon | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Anaheim | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Anderson | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Antioch | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Apple Valley | Apr 1 – May 20 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Arcadia | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Arcata | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Arroyo Grande | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Artesia | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Arvin | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Atascadero | Mar 20 – May 10 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Atwater | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Auburn | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Avenal | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Azusa | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Bakersfield | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Baldwin Park | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Banning | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Barstow | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Beaumont | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Belmont | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Benicia | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Berkeley | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Blythe | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Brawley | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Brea | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Brentwood | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Burbank | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Burlingame | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Calabasas | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Calexico | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| California City | Mar 20 – May 10 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Calimesa | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Camarillo | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Campbell | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Canyon Lake | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Carlsbad | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Ceres | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Cerritos | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Chico | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Chino | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Chino Hills | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Chowchilla | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Chula Vista | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Citrus Heights | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Claremont | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Clayton | Mar 20 – May 10 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Clearlake | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Clovis | — | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Coachella | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Coalinga | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Colton | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Concord | — | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Corcoran | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Corona | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Corte Madera | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Covina | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Cupertino | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Daly City | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Dana Point | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Danville | Mar 20 – May 10 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Davis | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Delano | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Desert Hot Springs | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Diamond Bar | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Dinuba | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Dixon | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Duarte | May 10 – June 15 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Dublin | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| East Palo Alto | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Eastvale | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| El Cajon | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| El Centro | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| El Cerrito | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| El Monte | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| El Paso de Robles (Paso Robles) | Mar 20 – May 10 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Elk Grove | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Emeryville | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Encinitas | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Escondido | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Eureka | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Exeter | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Fairfield | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Farmersville | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Fillmore | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Folsom | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Fontana | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Fortuna | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Foster City | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Fremont | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Fresno | — | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Galt | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Gilroy | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Glendale | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Glendora | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Goleta | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Grand Terrace | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Grass Valley | Apr 20 – June 1 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Greenfield | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Grover Beach | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Half Moon Bay | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Hanford | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Hayward | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Healdsburg | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Hemet | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Hercules | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Hesperia | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Highland | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Hillsborough | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Hollister | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Imperial | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Imperial Beach | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Indio | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Irvine | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Jurupa Valley | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Kerman | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| King City | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Kingsburg | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| La Habra | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| La Mesa | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| La Mirada | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| La Puente | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| La Quinta | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| La Verne | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Lafayette | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Laguna Beach | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Laguna Hills | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Laguna Niguel | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Laguna Woods | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Lake Elsinore | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Lake Forest | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Lancaster | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – July 1 |
| Larkspur | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Lathrop | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Lemon Grove | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Lemoore | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Lincoln | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Lindsay | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Livermore | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Livingston | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Lodi | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Loma Linda | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Lompoc | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Los Altos | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Los Banos | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Los Gatos | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Madera | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Manteca | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Marina | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Martinez | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Marysville | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| McFarland | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Mendota | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Menifee | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Menlo Park | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Merced | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Mill Valley | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Millbrae | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Milpitas | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Mission Viejo | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Modesto | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Monrovia | May 10 – June 15 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Montclair | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Montebello | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Monterey | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Monterey Park | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Moorpark | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Moraga | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Moreno Valley | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Morgan Hill | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Morro Bay | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | — |
| Mountain View | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Murrieta | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | — |
| Napa | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Newark | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Newman | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Norco | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Norwalk | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Novato | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Oakdale | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Oakland | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Oakley | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Oceanside | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Ontario | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Orinda | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Oroville | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Oxnard | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Pacific Grove | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Palm Desert | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Palm Springs | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Palmdale | Mar 20 – May 10 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Palo Alto | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Parlier | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Patterson | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Perris | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Petaluma | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Pico Rivera | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Piedmont | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Pinole | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Pittsburg | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Placentia | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Placerville | Apr 10 – June 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Pleasant Hill | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Pleasanton | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Pomona | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Port Hueneme | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Porterville | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Poway | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Rancho Cordova | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Rancho Cucamonga | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Rancho Santa Margarita | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Red Bluff | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Redding | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Redlands | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Redwood City | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Reedley | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Rialto | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Richmond | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Ridgecrest | Mar 20 – May 10 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Rio Vista | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Ripon | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Riverbank | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Riverside | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Rocklin | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Rohnert Park | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Rosemead | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Roseville | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Sacramento | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Salinas | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| San Anselmo | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Bernardino | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Buenaventura (Ventura) | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Carlos | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| San Clemente | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Dimas | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Fernando | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Francisco | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Gabriel | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Jacinto | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| San Jose | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Juan Capistrano | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Leandro | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Luis Obispo | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| San Marcos | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Mateo | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Pablo | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Rafael | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| San Ramon | Mar 20 – May 10 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Sanger | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Santa Clara | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Santa Clarita | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Santa Cruz | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Santa Fe Springs | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Santa Maria | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Santa Paula | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Santa Rosa | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Santee | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Saratoga | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Scotts Valley | Apr 1 – May 20 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Seaside | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Selma | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Shafter | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Shasta Lake | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Sierra Madre | May 10 – June 15 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Simi Valley | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Solana Beach | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Soledad | May 5 – June 10 | June 1 – July 1 |
| Sonoma | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| South El Monte | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| South Lake Tahoe | June 15 – 30 | June 1 – 20 |
| South San Francisco | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Stockton | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Suisun City | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Sunnyvale | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Susanville | May 25 – June 15 | June 1 – 20 |
| Tehachapi | May 10 – June 15 | June 1 – July 1 |
| Temecula | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | — |
| Temple City | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Thousand Oaks | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Tracy | Mar 10 – May 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Truckee | June 15 – 30 | June 1 – 20 |
| Tulare | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Turlock | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Tustin | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Twentynine Palms | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Ukiah | Apr 1 – May 20 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Union City | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Upland | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Vacaville | Mar 1 – Apr 20 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Vallejo | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Victorville | Apr 1 – May 20 | June 1 – July 15 |
| Visalia | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Vista | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | — |
| Walnut | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Walnut Creek | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Wasco | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Watsonville | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| West Covina | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| West Sacramento | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Whittier | — | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Wildomar | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Windsor | Mar 10 – May 1 | June 1 – Aug 1 |
| Woodland | Feb 20 – Apr 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
| Yorba Linda | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Yuba City | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Aug 15 – Oct 1 |
| Yucaipa | Feb 1 – Apr 1 | Sept 1 – Nov 1Now |
| Yucca Valley | Mar 20 – May 10 | Aug 1 – Sept 1 |
Planting dates: USDA Home and Garden Bulletin No. 9 (1967), tables 4 and 5. Frost dates: NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020. “—” means outside the table. 63 other places in California have frost dates outside the table. The full USDA table for tomatoes.
Updated