When to plant potatoes in California

Sow outdoors in San Jose

Dec 5–Dec 19

Across California the window opens between December 4 and December 3. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, San Jose: Dec 5–Dec 19
Last frost, San Jose: Jan 2

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Plant seed potatoes once the soil reaches about 45°F. Shoots that come up before the last frost can be covered with soil.

Potatoes planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

San JoseDec 5–Dec 19

FresnoDec 17–Dec 31

SacramentoDec 15–Dec 29

BakersfieldJan 3–Jan 17

StocktonJan 8–Jan 22

RiversideDec 12–Dec 26

IrvineDec 8–Dec 22

FremontDec 4–Dec 18

San BernardinoDec 30–Jan 13

FontanaDec 7–Dec 21

ModestoJan 3–Jan 17

Moreno ValleyDec 30–Jan 13

GlendaleDec 5–Dec 19

OntarioDec 7–Dec 21

Elk GroveJan 5–Jan 19

Santa RosaJan 28–Feb 11

Rancho CucamongaDec 7–Dec 21

OceansideDec 26–Jan 9

LancasterMar 6–Mar 20

RosevilleJan 25–Feb 8

PalmdaleFeb 10–Feb 24

CoronaDec 20–Jan 3

SalinasJan 1–Jan 15

HaywardDec 5–Dec 19

SunnyvaleDec 9–Dec 23

PomonaDec 11–Dec 25

VisaliaDec 26–Jan 9

EscondidoDec 5–Dec 19

VictorvilleFeb 18–Mar 4

PasadenaDec 11–Dec 25

All 274 cities

City	Sow outdoors	Last frost
San Jose	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
Fresno	Dec 17 to Dec 31	Jan 14
Sacramento	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Bakersfield	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Stockton	Jan 8 to Jan 22	Feb 5
Riverside	Dec 12 to Dec 26	Jan 9
Irvine	Dec 8 to Dec 22	Jan 5
Fremont	Dec 4 to Dec 18	Jan 1
San Bernardino	Dec 30 to Jan 13	Jan 27
Fontana	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Modesto	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Moreno Valley	Dec 30 to Jan 13	Jan 27
Glendale	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
Ontario	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Elk Grove	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Feb 2
Santa Rosa	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Feb 25
Rancho Cucamonga	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Oceanside	Dec 26 to Jan 9	Jan 23
Lancaster	Mar 6 to Mar 20	Apr 3
Roseville	Jan 25 to Feb 8	Feb 22
Palmdale	Feb 10 to Feb 24	Mar 10
Corona	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Salinas	Jan 1 to Jan 15	Jan 29
Hayward	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
Sunnyvale	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Pomona	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Visalia	Dec 26 to Jan 9	Jan 23
Escondido	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
Victorville	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Mar 18
Pasadena	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Santa Clara	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Clovis	Dec 17 to Dec 31	Jan 14
Simi Valley	Dec 27 to Jan 10	Jan 24
Vallejo	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Concord	Dec 12 to Dec 26	Jan 9
Fairfield	Dec 18 to Jan 1	Jan 15
Thousand Oaks	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Dec 31
Berkeley	Dec 6 to Dec 20	Jan 3
Antioch	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Menifee	Dec 31 to Jan 14	Jan 28
Temecula	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Feb 2
Richmond	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Murrieta	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Feb 2
Santa Maria	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Feb 4
Jurupa Valley	Dec 12 to Dec 26	Jan 9
Rialto	Dec 13 to Dec 27	Jan 10
West Covina	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Chico	Feb 4 to Feb 18	Mar 4
El Monte	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Vacaville	Jan 21 to Feb 4	Feb 18
San Mateo	Dec 1 to Dec 15	Dec 29
Burbank	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
Hesperia	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Feb 28
Tracy	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Feb 25
El Cajon	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Daly City	Dec 2 to Dec 16	Dec 30
Merced	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 3
Vista	Jan 2 to Jan 16	Jan 30
Chino	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Manteca	Jan 9 to Jan 23	Feb 6
Arden-Arcade	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
San Marcos	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
Indio	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Dec 31
Redding	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 3
Hemet	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Folsom	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Carson	Dec 12 to Dec 26	Jan 9
Mission Viejo	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Rancho Cordova	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Santa Barbara	Dec 16 to Dec 30	Jan 13
Citrus Heights	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
San Ramon	Feb 8 to Feb 22	Mar 8
Mountain View	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
San Leandro	Dec 10 to Dec 24	Jan 7
Livermore	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Feb 15
Perris	Dec 31 to Jan 14	Jan 28
Redwood City	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Alhambra	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Upland	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Milpitas	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Carmichael	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Pittsburg	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Chino Hills	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Alameda	Dec 10 to Dec 24	Jan 7
Rocklin	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Feb 25
Napa	Jan 15 to Jan 29	Feb 12
Apple Valley	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Mar 18
Lake Elsinore	Dec 31 to Jan 14	Jan 28
Pleasanton	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Feb 15
Redlands	Dec 30 to Jan 13	Jan 27
Tulare	Dec 26 to Jan 9	Jan 23
Turlock	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Dublin	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Feb 15
Eastvale	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Walnut Creek	Dec 10 to Dec 24	Jan 7
Yuba City	Dec 18 to Jan 1	Jan 15
Lodi	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Feb 9
Madera	Jan 15 to Jan 29	Feb 12
Baldwin Park	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Camarillo	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Dec 31
Palo Alto	Jan 4 to Jan 18	Feb 1
Brentwood	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Davis	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Feb 10
Castro Valley	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
Union City	Dec 10 to Dec 24	Jan 7
South San Francisco	Dec 1 to Dec 15	Dec 29
Laguna Niguel	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Porterville	Dec 23 to Jan 6	Jan 20
Woodland	Jan 10 to Jan 24	Feb 7
Hanford	Jan 10 to Jan 24	Feb 7
San Clemente	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Santa Cruz	Jan 1 to Jan 15	Jan 29
Beaumont	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Gilroy	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Feb 24
Montebello	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
La Mesa	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Petaluma	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Feb 28
San Rafael	Dec 14 to Dec 28	Jan 11
Pico Rivera	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Cupertino	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Santee	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Highland	Dec 30 to Jan 13	Jan 27
Monterey Park	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Lincoln	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Feb 25
West Sacramento	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Feb 2
San Jacinto	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Yucaipa	Dec 30 to Jan 13	Jan 27
Arcadia	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Colton	Dec 13 to Dec 27	Jan 10
Palm Desert	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Dec 31
Cathedral City	Dec 12 to Dec 26	Jan 9
Delano	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Novato	Dec 14 to Dec 28	Jan 11
Diamond Bar	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Watsonville	Dec 31 to Jan 14	Jan 28
San Luis Obispo	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
El Dorado Hills	Mar 3 to Mar 17	Mar 31
Aliso Viejo	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Glendora	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Los Banos	Dec 29 to Jan 12	Jan 26
Florin	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Rosemead	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Covina	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Poway	Dec 8 to Dec 22	Jan 5
Antelope	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Ceres	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
North Highlands	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Newark	Dec 4 to Dec 18	Jan 1
Oakley	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Azusa	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Hollister	Jan 22 to Feb 5	Feb 19
Morgan Hill	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Feb 24
Coachella	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Dec 31
Palm Springs	Dec 4 to Dec 18	Jan 1
Rohnert Park	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Feb 25
El Centro	Dec 6 to Dec 20	Jan 3
Lompoc	Dec 23 to Jan 6	Jan 20
Danville	Feb 8 to Feb 22	Mar 8
Lathrop	Jan 9 to Jan 23	Feb 6
Vineyard	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
French Valley	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Feb 2
Campbell	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Feb 2
San Bruno	Dec 14 to Dec 28	Jan 11
Altadena	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Rancho Palos Verdes	Dec 12 to Dec 26	Jan 9
La Quinta	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Dec 31
Adelanto	Feb 18 to Mar 4	Mar 18
Calexico	Dec 6 to Dec 20	Jan 3
Monrovia	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Apr 28
San Gabriel	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Wildomar	Dec 31 to Jan 14	Jan 28
Montclair	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Foothill Farms	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Pacifica	Dec 14 to Dec 28	Jan 11
Martinez	Jan 31 to Feb 14	Feb 28
La Puente	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Claremont	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Orangevale	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Temple City	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
San Juan Capistrano	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Moorpark	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Dec 31
Oildale	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Pleasant Hill	Dec 10 to Dec 24	Jan 7
Desert Hot Springs	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Feb 25
San Dimas	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Menlo Park	Jan 4 to Jan 18	Feb 1
Los Gatos	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Feb 2
Fallbrook	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Feb 2
Foster City	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Goleta	Dec 14 to Dec 28	Jan 11
Dana Point	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Spring Valley	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Atwater	Feb 3 to Feb 17	Mar 3
Fair Oaks	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Burlingame	Dec 1 to Dec 15	Dec 29
Banning	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Santa Paula	Dec 3 to Dec 17	Dec 31
San Pablo	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Seaside	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
El Paso de Robles	Feb 15 to Mar 1	Mar 15
Orcutt	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Feb 4
Los Altos	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Saratoga	Jan 5 to Jan 19	Feb 2
La Verne	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Laguna Hills	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Atascadero	Feb 15 to Mar 1	Mar 15
Suisun City	Dec 18 to Jan 1	Jan 15
San Lorenzo	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
Eastern Goleta Valley	Dec 14 to Dec 28	Jan 11
San Carlos	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Monterey	Dec 4 to Dec 18	Jan 1
East Palo Alto	Jan 4 to Jan 18	Feb 1
Belmont	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
East Niles	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Temescal Valley	Dec 31 to Jan 14	Jan 28
Ridgecrest	Feb 11 to Feb 25	Mar 11
Brawley	Dec 19 to Jan 2	Jan 16
Walnut	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Lemoore	Jan 27 to Feb 10	Feb 24
Sanger	Jan 2 to Jan 16	Jan 30
Reedley	Jan 2 to Jan 16	Jan 30
Galt	Jan 12 to Jan 26	Feb 9
Patterson	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Riverbank	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Wasco	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Benicia	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Soledad	Mar 26 to Apr 9	Apr 23
Hercules	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
El Cerrito	Dec 6 to Dec 20	Jan 3
Dinuba	Dec 26 to Jan 9	Jan 23
Twentynine Palms	Dec 27 to Jan 10	Jan 24
Windsor	Feb 2 to Feb 16	Mar 2
South Pasadena	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
West Whittier-Los Nietos	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Mountain House	Dec 22 to Jan 5	Jan 19
Lafayette	Dec 10 to Dec 24	Jan 7
Eureka	Jan 25 to Feb 8	Feb 22
Loma Linda	Dec 30 to Jan 13	Jan 27
Norco	Dec 20 to Jan 3	Jan 17
Barstow	Jan 25 to Feb 8	Feb 22
Selma	Jan 2 to Jan 16	Jan 30
Bloomington	Dec 13 to Dec 27	Jan 10
Bay Point	Dec 12 to Dec 26	Jan 9
Shafter	Jan 23 to Feb 6	Feb 20
Ladera Ranch	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
East San Gabriel	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
San Fernando	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
Rosemont	Dec 15 to Dec 29	Jan 12
Marina	Jan 7 to Jan 21	Feb 4
Oakdale	Jan 3 to Jan 17	Jan 31
Linda	Jan 14 to Jan 28	Feb 11
Millbrae	Dec 1 to Dec 15	Dec 29
Duarte	Mar 31 to Apr 14	Apr 28
Ramona	Feb 19 to Mar 5	Mar 19
Ashland	Dec 5 to Dec 19	Jan 2
American Canyon	Feb 5 to Feb 19	Mar 5
Laguna Beach	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Corcoran	Jan 18 to Feb 1	Feb 15
Imperial	Dec 17 to Dec 31	Jan 14
Rancho San Diego	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
West Puente Valley	Dec 7 to Dec 21	Jan 4
Calabasas	Dec 27 to Jan 10	Jan 24
Winter Gardens	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
West Carson	Dec 12 to Dec 26	Jan 9
Yucca Valley	Feb 14 to Feb 28	Mar 14
Lakeside	Dec 9 to Dec 23	Jan 6
Valinda	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Granite Bay	Jan 28 to Feb 11	Feb 25
Stevenson Ranch	Dec 11 to Dec 25	Jan 8
Greenfield	Jan 26 to Feb 9	Feb 23
Dixon	Jan 13 to Jan 27	Feb 10
Rosamond	Mar 6 to Mar 20	Apr 3
Oroville	Jan 2 to Jan 16	Jan 30
East Hemet	Dec 13 to Dec 27	Jan 10

Questions

When should I plant potatoes in California?

In San Jose, sow outdoors from December 5 to December 19. Across California the window opens between December 4 and December 3, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks before the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.