Richmond, California: planting zone & frost dates
Richmond 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 14 and the first fall frost around Dec 27.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Jan 26 | Dec 11 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 14 | Dec 27 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 4 | Jan 2 |
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 RICHMOND, CA (USC00047414), 2.5 mi (4.0 km) from the city center and 13 ft lower than the city center (-4 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 25 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Richmond
All 6 ZIP codes covering Richmond are in zone 10a.
Vegetable planting calendar for Richmond
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 14, first frost Dec 27). 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 19 – Dec 3 | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | Dec 31 – Jan 21 | Dec 17 – Jan 28 | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Jan 21 – Feb 25 | Oct 4 – Oct 18 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Jan 21 – Feb 18 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Dec 17 – Dec 24 | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | Jan 21 – Feb 11 | Oct 4 – Oct 18 |
| Cucumber | Dec 17 – Dec 24 | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | Jan 21 – Feb 11 | Oct 4 – Oct 18 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 24 – Jan 28 | Oct 4 – Oct 18 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Oct 22 – Nov 5 | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Dec 17 – Jan 7 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Jan 28 – Feb 18 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 3 – Dec 31 | Nov 1 – Nov 29 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 19 – Dec 3 | Dec 17 – Jan 7 | Dec 17 – Jan 7 | Oct 18 – Nov 15 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 19 – Dec 3 | Dec 31 – Jan 21 | — | Oct 4 – Oct 18 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 3 – Dec 24 | Oct 18 – Nov 1 |
| Eggplant | Nov 5 – Nov 19 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 19 – Dec 3 | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | — | Oct 4 – Oct 18 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 10 – Jan 28 | Nov 15 – Dec 13 |
| Strawberry | — | Dec 17 – Jan 7 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 24 – Feb 4 | Oct 18 – Nov 1 |
Nearby cities in California
- Berkeley — zone 10a, last frost Jan 12, first frost Dec 25
- San Francisco — zone 10b, frost rare
- Vallejo — zone 9b, last frost Mar 25, first frost Nov 12
- Oakland — zone 10a, frost rare
- Alameda — zone 10a, last frost Jan 22, first frost Dec 10
- Daly City — zone 10a, last frost Jan 23, first frost Dec 12
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
Richmond gardening questions
When is the last frost in Richmond, CA?
Plan around Jan 14. At NOAA's Richmond, CA station, 2.5 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 4, and after Jan 26 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. The 90% and 10% dates are 43 days apart, close to the 36-day median for cities on this site.
When should I plant tomatoes in Richmond, CA?
Start seeds indoors Nov 19 – Dec 3 and set transplants outside Jan 21 – Feb 4, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 347 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 Richmond?
About 365 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 354 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 365 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Dec 11 and a 30% chance by Dec 27. That ranks 14th longest of 84 California cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Richmond?
Count back from the first fall frost (Dec 27): transplant broccoli Oct 4 – Oct 18; sow kale Oct 18 – Nov 15; sow lettuce Oct 18 – Nov 15; sow radishes Nov 15 – Dec 13. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Richmond's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
No. Going by the zone that covers most of the city's land, Richmond 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 Richmond compare with Berkeley, CA?
Both are in zone 10a. The typical last spring frost in Richmond (Jan 14) comes about the same time as in Berkeley, CA (Jan 12), 7 miles away, and the first fall frost is Dec 27 versus Dec 25. The two cities use different NOAA stations.