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

Planting zone for Santa Cruz, CA

Santa Cruz, CA is in USDA zones 9b to 10a across its 6 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is January 29 and the first fall frost December 13.

Santa Cruz on the zone map

Outlined: its 4 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.

Zones9b–10a25 to 35 °F
ZIP codes6
Last frostJan 29
First frostDec 13
Growing season323 days

9b 3 ZIPs   10a 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Santa Cruz, 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 Santa Cruz, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJanuary 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsFebruary 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 13median — 10% chance by Nov 23
Growing season323 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 3 and returns around December 27.

From the NOAA station Santa Cruz, CA, elevation 69 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 Santa Cruz

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 18 – Jan 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 18 – Jan 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 20 – Dec 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 4 – Dec 18
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 20 – Dec 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 12 – Feb 26
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 18 – Nov 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 29 – Jan 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jan 29) and first fall frost (Dec 13) 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 95061 came on Jan 26 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 27).

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 Santa Cruz, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95061 is Soquel — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Soquel loam, 2 to 9 percent slopes.

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 95061; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Santa Cruz, CA

Summer high77 °Faverage high, September
Winter low41 °Faverage low, January
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights6nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,271base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation30.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 63 °F, low 41 °F 63°41° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MarApril: average high 69 °F, low 46 °F 69°46° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 49 °F 71°49° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 52 °F 74°52° JunJuly: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° JulAugust: average high 76 °F, low 55 °F 76°55° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 53 °F 77°53° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° NovDecember: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 6.42 in precipitation 6.4 JanFebruary: 6.10 in precipitation 6.1 FebMarch: 4.31 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 2.04 in precipitation 2.0 AprMay: 0.87 in precipitation 0.9 MayJune: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 JunJuly: 0.01 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.04 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.10 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 3.17 in precipitation 3.2 NovDecember: 6.01 in precipitation 6.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Santa Cruz, CA (2 mi away); precipitation: Santa Cruz, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Santa Cruz

950609b
25 to 30 °F
9506110a
30 to 35 °F
9506210a
30 to 35 °F
9506310a
30 to 35 °F
950649b
25 to 30 °F
950659b
25 to 30 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Santa Cruz

What planting zone is Santa Cruz, CA?

Santa Cruz, CA is in USDA hardiness zones 9b to 10a on the 2023 map (9b: 25 to 30 °F; 10a: 30 to 35 °F).

When is the last frost in Santa Cruz, CA?

The median last spring frost is January 29 and the median first fall frost is December 13 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Cruz station).

When can I plant a garden in Santa Cruz, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Dec 18 – Jan 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Santa Cruz, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Santa Cruz, CA get?

About 30.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).