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

Planting zone for Petaluma, CA

Petaluma, CA is in USDA zones 9a to 9b across its 6 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 28 and the first fall frost November 25.

Petaluma 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.

Zones9a–9b20 to 30 °F
ZIP codes6
Last frostFeb 28
First frostNov 25
Growing season271 days

9a 4 ZIPs   9b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Petaluma, 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 Petaluma, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 25median — 10% chance by Nov 9
Growing season271 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 17 and returns around December 9.

From the NOAA station Petaluma Airport, CA, elevation 20 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 Petaluma

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Jan 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 17 – Feb 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 7 – Feb 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 20 – Jan 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 14 – Mar 28
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 30 – Oct 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 11 – Dec 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 28) and first fall frost (Nov 25) 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 94953 came on Jan 30 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 31).

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 Petaluma, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 94953 is Yolo — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.4%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Yolo clay loam, 0 to 5 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 94953; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Petaluma, CA

Summer high82 °Faverage high, September
Winter low38 °Faverage low, December
Hot days21days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights21nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,210base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 50 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 30 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation28.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 42 °F 65°42° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° AprMay: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° MayJune: average high 78 °F, low 50 °F 78°50° JunJuly: average high 81 °F, low 52 °F 81°52° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 53 °F 81°53° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 51 °F 82°51° SepOctober: average high 76 °F, low 48 °F 76°48° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 5.82 in precipitation 5.8 JanFebruary: 5.58 in precipitation 5.6 FebMarch: 3.69 in precipitation 3.7 MarApril: 1.90 in precipitation 1.9 AprMay: 1.12 in precipitation 1.1 MayJune: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 JunJuly: 0.02 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.06 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.12 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 OctNovember: 2.68 in precipitation 2.7 NovDecember: 6.10 in precipitation 6.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Petaluma Airport, CA (2 mi away); precipitation: Petaluma 1.3 Sw, CA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Petaluma

949529b
25 to 30 °F
949539a
20 to 25 °F
949549b
25 to 30 °F
949559a
20 to 25 °F
949759a
20 to 25 °F
949999a
20 to 25 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Petaluma

What planting zone is Petaluma, CA?

Petaluma, CA is in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F; 9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Petaluma, CA?

The median last spring frost is February 28 and the median first fall frost is November 25 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Petaluma Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Petaluma, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 17 – Feb 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 7, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Petaluma, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 50 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Petaluma, CA get?

About 28.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).