Burbank, California: planting zone & frost dates
Burbank is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10a, where the average coldest winter night reaches 30 to 35°F (-1.1 to 1.7°C). The typical last spring frost is around Jan 10 and the first fall frost around Dec 16.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 10 | Dec 16 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 2 | Dec 26 |
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 BURBANK VALLEY PUMP PLT, CA (USC00041194), 1.2 mi (2.0 km) from the city center and 39 ft higher than the city center (+12 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 28 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Burbank
All 5 ZIP codes covering Burbank are in zone 10a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Burbank
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 10, 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 | Nov 15 – Nov 29 | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 1 – Nov 15 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | Dec 27 – Jan 17 | Dec 13 – Jan 24 | Oct 7 – Nov 4 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Jan 17 – Feb 21 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Jan 17 – Feb 14 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Dec 13 – Dec 20 | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | Jan 17 – Feb 7 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Cucumber | Dec 13 – Dec 20 | Jan 24 – Jan 31 | Jan 17 – Feb 7 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 20 – Jan 24 | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Oct 18 – Nov 1 | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Dec 13 – Jan 3 | — | — |
| Basil | Nov 29 – Dec 13 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | Jan 24 – Feb 14 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Nov 29 – Dec 27 | Oct 21 – Nov 18 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 15 – Nov 29 | Dec 13 – Jan 3 | Dec 13 – Jan 3 | Oct 7 – Nov 4 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 15 – Nov 29 | Dec 27 – Jan 17 | — | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Nov 29 – Dec 20 | Oct 7 – Oct 21 |
| Eggplant | Nov 1 – Nov 15 | Jan 24 – Feb 7 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 15 – Nov 29 | Dec 13 – Dec 27 | — | Sep 23 – Oct 7 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 6 – Jan 24 | Nov 4 – Dec 2 |
| Strawberry | — | Dec 13 – Jan 3 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 20 – Jan 31 | Oct 7 – Oct 21 |
Nearby cities in California
- Glendale — zone 10a, last frost Jan 14, first frost Jan 1
- Los Angeles — zone 10a, frost rare
- Pasadena — zone 10a, last frost Jan 14, first frost Jan 1
- Alhambra — zone 10a, last frost Jan 13, first frost Dec 28
- Inglewood — zone 10b, frost rare
- Santa Monica — zone 11a, frost rare
More: all California cities · other zone 10a cities: Los Angeles, CA, Oakland, CA, Tampa, FL, Orlando, FL, Riverside, CA, Corpus Christi, TX, Port St. Lucie, FL, Scottsdale, AZ
Burbank gardening questions
When is the last frost in Burbank, CA?
Plan around Jan 10. At NOAA's Burbank Valley Pump Plt, CA station, 1.2 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 2, and after Jan 31 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. Springs here are erratic: 51 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 Burbank, CA?
Start seeds indoors Nov 15 – Nov 29 and set transplants outside Jan 17 – Jan 31, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 340 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 Burbank?
About 364 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 330 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Dec 5 and a 30% chance by Dec 16. That ranks 26th longest of 84 California cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Burbank?
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 Burbank's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Burbank is zone 10a 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 Burbank compare with Glendale, CA?
Both are in zone 10a. The typical last spring frost in Burbank (Jan 10) comes about 4 days earlier than in Glendale, CA (Jan 14), 5 miles away, and the first fall frost is Dec 16 versus Jan 1. Burbank sits about 725 ft lower, which explains part of the gap. The two cities use different NOAA stations.