Hesperia, California: planting zone & frost dates
Hesperia is in USDA plant hardiness zone 8b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 15 to 20°F (-9.4 to -6.7°C). The typical last spring frost is around Mar 12 and the first fall frost around Nov 23.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Apr 3 | Nov 11 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Mar 12 | Nov 23 |
| Median (50%) | Feb 28 | Dec 1 |
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 HESPERIA 2E, CA (USC00043937), 3.2 mi (5.2 km) from the city center and 299 ft lower than the city center (-91 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 10 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Hesperia
All 2 ZIP codes covering Hesperia are in zone 8b.
Vegetable planting calendar for Hesperia
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Mar 12, first frost Nov 23). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | — | — |
| Pepper | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | — |
| Lettuce | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Feb 26 – Mar 19 | Feb 12 – Mar 26 | Sep 14 – Oct 12 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Mar 19 – Apr 23 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Mar 19 – Apr 16 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | Mar 19 – Apr 2 | Mar 19 – Apr 9 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Cucumber | Feb 12 – Feb 19 | Mar 26 – Apr 2 | Mar 19 – Apr 9 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Carrot | — | — | Feb 19 – Mar 26 | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Onion | Dec 18 – Jan 1 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | — |
| Potato | — | Feb 12 – Mar 5 | — | — |
| Basil | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Mar 26 – Apr 16 | — |
| Spinach | — | — | Jan 29 – Feb 26 | Sep 28 – Oct 26 |
| Kale | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Feb 12 – Mar 5 | Feb 12 – Mar 5 | Sep 14 – Oct 12 |
| Broccoli | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Feb 26 – Mar 19 | — | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Peas | — | — | Jan 29 – Feb 19 | Sep 14 – Sep 28 |
| Eggplant | Jan 1 – Jan 15 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | — | — |
| Cabbage | Jan 15 – Jan 29 | Feb 12 – Feb 26 | — | Aug 31 – Sep 14 |
| Radish | — | — | Feb 5 – Mar 26 | Oct 12 – Nov 9 |
| Strawberry | — | Feb 12 – Mar 5 | — | — |
| Beets | — | — | Feb 19 – Apr 2 | Sep 14 – Sep 28 |
Nearby cities in California
- Victorville — zone 8b, last frost Mar 31, first frost Nov 5
- San Bernardino — zone 10a, last frost Feb 10, first frost Dec 11
- Rialto — zone 10a, last frost Feb 10, first frost Dec 11
- Fontana — zone 10a, last frost Jan 13, first frost Dec 22
- Rancho Cucamonga — zone 10a, last frost Jan 13, first frost Dec 22
- Jurupa Valley — zone 10a, last frost Jan 29, first frost Dec 19
More: all California cities · other zone 8b cities: Dallas, TX, Fort Worth, TX, El Paso, TX, Virginia Beach, VA, Arlington, TX, Plano, TX, Irving, TX, Garland, TX
Hesperia gardening questions
When is the last frost in Hesperia, CA?
Plan around Mar 12. At NOAA's Hesperia 2E, CA station, 3.2 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 Feb 28, and after Apr 3 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Jan 30. Springs here are erratic: 61 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 Hesperia, CA?
Start seeds indoors Jan 15 – Jan 29 and set transplants outside Mar 19 – Apr 2, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. That leaves 256 days between the 30% frost dates, enough for most varieties including 80–85-day slicers. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Hesperia?
About 270 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 236 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 304 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 11 and a 30% chance by Nov 23. That ranks 77th longest of 84 California cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Hesperia?
Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 23): transplant broccoli Aug 31 – Sep 14; sow kale Sep 14 – Oct 12; sow lettuce Sep 14 – Oct 12; sow radishes Oct 12 – Nov 9. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Dec 14. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Hesperia's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Hesperia is zone 8b 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 Hesperia compare with Victorville, CA?
Both are in zone 8b. The typical last spring frost in Hesperia (Mar 12) comes about 19 days earlier than in Victorville, CA (Mar 31), 9 miles away, and the first fall frost is Nov 23 versus Nov 5. Hesperia sits about 398 ft higher, which explains part of the gap. The two cities use different NOAA stations.