State agricultural overview

California crop calendar.

Zone 9a
Range 5b to 11a
270-day season
Last frost March 1
First frost November 30

8 primary crops with planting windows for California. Calendar timing is anchored to 9a dominant hardiness zone and a 270-day growing season — verify against University of California Cooperative Extension for variety- and county-specific guidance.

Row Crop · California

Cotton
primary
Spring: March 15 – April 5
Grain Sorghum
primary
Spring: March 22 – April 19
Corn
secondary
Spring: March 1 – March 22
Soybeans
secondary
Spring: March 15 – April 5
Winter Wheat
secondary
Fall: November 23 – December 14
Sunflowers
limited
Spring: March 8 – April 5

Vegetables · California

Cucumbers
primary
Spring: March 15 – April 19
Peppers
primary
Spring: March 22 – April 12
Pumpkins
primary
Spring: March 22 – April 19
Sweet Corn
primary
Spring: March 1 – April 5
Tomatoes
primary
Spring: March 15 – April 5
Potatoes
secondary
Spring: February 16 – March 8
Fall: September 16 – October 1

Forages · California

Clover
primary
Spring: February 9 – March 8
Fall: October 1 – October 16
Alfalfa
limited
Spring: February 23 – March 22
Fall: October 1 – October 16

Cover Crops · California

Brassicas
secondary
Fall: September 16 – October 1
Cereal Oats
secondary
Spring: February 23 – March 22
Fall: October 1 – October 16
Winter Rye
secondary
Fall: November 23 – December 14
Buckwheat
limited
Spring: April 26 – May 24

Frost & extension reference

California climate anchors.

Last frost

March 1

First frost

November 30

Growing season

270 days

Hardiness zone

California county-level frost dates →University of California Cooperative Extension →

California planting timing. Live alerts.

Bield: Farm ties weather and soil-temperature stations in your county to crop planting thresholds — get notified the day soil temp clears your target window.

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