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

Planting zone for Santa Monica, CA

Santa Monica, CA is in USDA zone 11a across its 11 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is January 24 and the first fall frost December 15.

Santa Monica on the zone map

Outlined: its 5 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.

Zone11a40 to 45 °F
ZIP codes11
Last frostJan 24
First frostDec 15
Growing season329 days

11a 11 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Santa Monica, 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 Monica, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJanuary 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 15median — 10% chance by Nov 27
Growing season329 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around December 31 and returns around December 26.

From the NOAA station Woodland Hills Pierce College, CA, elevation 791 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 Monica

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 13 – Dec 27
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 13 – Jan 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 15 – Nov 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 3 – Jan 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Dec 27 – Jan 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Dec 27 – Jan 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 3 – Jan 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Nov 29 – Dec 13
TomatoesTransplant · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 15 – Nov 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 7 – Feb 21
BeansSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 20 – Nov 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 1 – Jan 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jan 24) and first fall frost (Dec 15) 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 90406 came on Jan 17 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 20).

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 Monica, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 90406 is Pierview — loam, well drained. Much of the area is built over (urban land); this is the natural soil underneath.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Urban land-Pierview complex, 0 to 5 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 90406; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Santa Monica, CA

Summer high70 °Faverage high, August
Winter low50 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights0nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,847base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation12.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

40°50°60°70°80°January: average high 62 °F, low 50 °F 62°50° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 50 °F 62°50° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 52 °F 62°52° MarApril: average high 63 °F, low 53 °F 63°53° AprMay: average high 63 °F, low 56 °F 63°56° MayJune: average high 66 °F, low 59 °F 66°59° JunJuly: average high 69 °F, low 62 °F 69°62° JulAugust: average high 70 °F, low 62 °F 70°62° AugSeptember: average high 70 °F, low 61 °F 70°61° SepOctober: average high 68 °F, low 59 °F 68°59° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 54 °F 67°54° NovDecember: average high 63 °F, low 50 °F 63°50° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.08 in precipitation 3.1 JanFebruary: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 FebMarch: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 MarApril: 0.57 in precipitation 0.6 AprMay: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.05 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.03 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.01 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.03 in precipitation 0.0 SepOctober: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 OctNovember: 0.81 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Santa Monica Pier, CA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Santa Monica Pier, CA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Santa Monica

9040111a
40 to 45 °F
9040211a
40 to 45 °F
9040311a
40 to 45 °F
9040411a
40 to 45 °F
9040511a
40 to 45 °F
9040611a
40 to 45 °F
9040711a
40 to 45 °F
9040811a
40 to 45 °F
9040911a
40 to 45 °F
9041011a
40 to 45 °F
9041111a
40 to 45 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Santa Monica

What planting zone is Santa Monica, CA?

Santa Monica, CA is in USDA hardiness zone 11a on the 2023 map (11a: 40 to 45 °F).

When is the last frost in Santa Monica, CA?

The median last spring frost is January 24 and the median first fall frost is December 15 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Woodland Hills Pierce College station).

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

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Dec 13 – Jan 3; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Jan 31, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Santa Monica, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

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

About 12.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).