Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Livermore, CA

Livermore, CA is in USDA zone 9b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost November 18.

Livermore on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMay 3
First frostNov 18
Growing season197 days

9b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Livermore, CA…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Livermore, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 18median — 10% chance by Oct 22
Growing season197 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 10 and returns around December 7.

From the NOAA station Mt Hamilton, CA, elevation 4,206 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Livermore

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 23 – Oct 7
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 4 – Dec 9
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Nov 18) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 94551 came on Jan 30 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 30).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Soil in Livermore, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 94551 is Clear Lake — clay, poorly drained.

TextureClayholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainagePoorly drainedconsider raised beds
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Clear Lake clay, drained, 0 to 2 percent slopes, MLRA 14.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 94551; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Livermore, CA

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low39 °Faverage low, January
Hot days57days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights13nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,091base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 46 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 33 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation14.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MarApril: average high 71 °F, low 46 °F 71°46° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 54 °F 84°54° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 57 °F 89°57° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 57 °F 89°57° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 50 °F 77°50° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 2.78 in precipitation 2.8 JanFebruary: 2.72 in precipitation 2.7 FebMarch: 2.20 in precipitation 2.2 MarApril: 1.10 in precipitation 1.1 AprMay: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.12 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.00 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.04 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.09 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 1.54 in precipitation 1.5 NovDecember: 2.73 in precipitation 2.7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Livermore, CA (6 mi away); precipitation: Livermore, CA (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Livermore

945509b
25 to 30 °F
945519b
25 to 30 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Livermore

What planting zone is Livermore, CA?

Livermore, CA is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map (9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Livermore, CA?

The median last spring frost is May 3 and the median first fall frost is November 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mt Hamilton station).

When can I plant a garden in Livermore, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 22 – Apr 12; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 10, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Livermore, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 46 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Livermore, CA get?

About 14.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).