Daly City, California: planting zone & frost dates
Daly City 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 23 and the first fall frost around Dec 12.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Mar 13 | Nov 26 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 23 | Dec 12 |
| Median (50%) | Dec 30 | Dec 25 |
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 SAN FRANCISCO OCEANSIDE, CA (USC00047767), 2.9 mi (4.6 km) from the city center and 315 ft lower than the city center (-96 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 24 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Daly City
All 2 ZIP codes covering Daly City are in zone 10a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Daly City
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 23, first frost Dec 12). 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 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Jan 9 – Jan 30 | Dec 26 – Feb 6 | Oct 3 – Oct 31 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Jan 30 – Mar 6 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Jan 30 – Feb 27 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Dec 26 – Jan 2 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Jan 30 – Feb 20 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Cucumber | Dec 26 – Jan 2 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | Jan 30 – Feb 20 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 2 – Feb 6 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Feb 6 – Feb 27 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 12 – Jan 9 | Oct 17 – Nov 14 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | Oct 3 – Oct 31 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 9 – Jan 30 | — | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 12 – Jan 2 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 |
| Eggplant | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | — | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 19 – Feb 6 | Oct 31 – Nov 28 |
| Strawberry | — | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 2 – Feb 13 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 |
Nearby cities in California
- San Francisco — zone 10b, frost rare
- Alameda — zone 10a, last frost Jan 22, first frost Dec 10
- San Mateo — zone 10a, last frost Jan 3, first frost Dec 21
- Berkeley — zone 10a, last frost Jan 12, first frost Dec 25
- Oakland — zone 10a, frost rare
- Richmond — zone 10a, last frost Jan 14, first frost Dec 27
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
Daly City gardening questions
When is the last frost in Daly City, CA?
Plan around Jan 23. At NOAA's San Francisco Oceanside, CA station, 2.9 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 Dec 30, and after Mar 13 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. Springs here are erratic: 101 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 Daly City, CA?
Start seeds indoors Nov 28 – Dec 12 and set transplants outside Jan 30 – Feb 13, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 323 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 Daly City?
About 365 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 336 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 26 and a 30% chance by Dec 12. That ranks 20th longest of 84 California cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Daly City?
Count back from the first fall frost (Dec 12): transplant broccoli Sep 19 – Oct 3; sow kale Oct 3 – Oct 31; sow lettuce Oct 3 – Oct 31; sow radishes Oct 31 – Nov 28. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Daly City's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
Yes, but toward colder: Daly City went from zone 10b (2012) to zone 10a (2023). Only about 1% of U.S. ZIP codes moved colder; these changes mostly reflect added weather stations and improved mapping methods rather than a colder climate. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
How does Daly City compare with San Francisco, CA?
Daly City is zone 10a and San Francisco is zone 10b. Frost is rare in San Francisco, but Daly City (6 miles away) has a typical last frost around Jan 23 — see San Francisco, CA.