Last frost date in Santa Barbara, CA

Average last frost
January 13

The average last frost in Santa Barbara is January 13. By February 24 the chance of another 32°F night drops to 1 in 10. The first fall frost usually arrives about January 6, which leaves 365 frost-free days. An early freeze before December 12 happens one year in ten.

Safe after (10% risk)
Feb 24
Average first frost
Jan 6
Frost-free season
365 days
Hard freeze (28°F) ends
rare
Next 6 nights in Santa Barbara

No frost in the next 6 nights

National Weather Service forecast, updated Oct 22, 12:57 UTC

  1. ThuOct 2253°
  2. FriOct 2354°
  3. SatOct 2456°
  4. SunOct 2556°
  5. MonOct 2656°
  6. TueOct 2755°
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecLast frost Jan 13First frost Jan 6365 frost-free daysBlue: chance of 32°F frost. Green: average frost-free season.JFMAMJJASOND365 frost-free days
Frost risk through the year at Santa Barbara, 1.9 miles from Santa Barbara.

Planting calendar for Santa Barbara

Windows count forward or back from the average frost dates above. Click a crop for dates across California.

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
Warm-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
TomatoesFeb 15–Mar 1
PumpkinsFeb 15–Mar 1
SunflowersFeb 15–Mar 8
CucumbersFeb 22–Mar 1
CornFeb 15–Mar 1
Sweet potatoesFeb 15–Mar 1
WatermelonFeb 15–Mar 1
Green beansFeb 15–Mar 8
ZucchiniFeb 15–Mar 1
OkraFeb 15–Mar 1
PeppersFeb 15–Mar 1
BasilFeb 15–Mar 1
Butternut squashFeb 15–Mar 1
CantaloupeFeb 15–Mar 1
EggplantFeb 15–Mar 1
Cool-season crops
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PotatoesDec 16–Dec 30
OnionsDec 2–Dec 23
CarrotsDec 23–Jan 27
LettuceDec 30–Jan 20
BroccoliDec 16–Dec 30
BeetsDec 16–Jan 27
PeasDec 2–Dec 16
CabbageDec 16–Dec 30
RadishesDec 9–Jan 20
Brussels sproutsDec 30–Jan 13
SpinachDec 2–Dec 23
CilantroDec 30–Jan 20
KaleDec 16–Dec 30
Collard greensDec 16–Dec 30
TurnipsDec 16–Dec 30
DillJan 13–Jan 27
CeleryJan 20–Jan 27
CauliflowerDec 30–Jan 13
LeeksDec 30–Jan 13
Swiss chardDec 30–Jan 27
ParsleyDec 30–Jan 20
Fall bulbs and garlic
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Tulip bulbsDec 15–Jan 15
GarlicOct 15–Nov 30
Daffodil bulbsOct 15–Nov 30
Perennials
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
StrawberriesDec 16–Dec 30
AsparagusDec 16–Dec 30

Frost probabilities

ThresholdSpring, 90% chance laterSpring, 50%Spring, 10%Fall, 10% chance earlierFall, 50%Fall, 90%
Light frost, 32°FDec 12Jan 13Feb 24Dec 12Jan 6Feb 22

Read the spring 10% column as the date after which only one year in ten still gets frost. That is the safer date for tomatoes, peppers and basil.

Where these numbers come from

NOAA station Santa Barbara (USC00047902) sits 1.9 miles from the center of Santa Barbara at 16 feet. Its averages cover 1991 to 2020. Low spots, valleys and open fields can keep getting frost a week or two after the station stops; city centers and lakeshores usually get less of it.

Questions

When is the last frost in Santa Barbara, CA?

The average last frost date in Santa Barbara is January 13, based on NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals. There is a 10% chance of frost after February 24.

When is the first frost in Santa Barbara?

The first frost in fall usually comes around January 6. One year in ten it arrives before December 12.

How long is the growing season in Santa Barbara?

About 365 days between the average last and first frost.

When should I plant tomatoes in Santa Barbara?

Plant tomato seedlings outside from February 15 to March 1. Start seeds indoors six to eight weeks earlier.

Nearby in California

All 348 cities in California