Frost dates for Riverside, California
In a typical year, Riverside’s last spring frost lands around Jan 9 and the first fall frost around Dec 25, a growing season of about 350 days. These are odds drawn from 30-year NOAA climate normals, not a promise. USDA zone 10a.
Right now the growing season is open, with about 61 days until the typical first fall frost.
| Odds | Last spring frost | First fall frost |
|---|---|---|
| 10 percent | Dec 16 | Dec 1 |
| 50 percent | Jan 9 | Dec 25 |
| 90 percent | Feb 25 | Jan 27 |
A 10 percent year is an early year, a 90 percent year a late one. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the 90 percent side of the last-frost band.
Soil in Riverside is typically around 67°F at 4 inches this time of year, estimated from the last two weeks of normal air temperatures.
Plantable now in Riverside
- Radish (Cherry Belle)
- Lettuce (Buttercrunch)
- Pea (Sugar Snap)
- Beet (Detroit Dark Red)
- Spinach (Space)
- Onion (Vidalia)
- Swiss chard (Bright Lights)
- Kale (Lacinato)
Timing comes from the same temperature engine the app uses, run against Riverside’s normals for today.
Common questions
When is the last frost in Riverside, California?
Riverside’s last spring frost falls around January 9 in a typical year. One year in ten it is done by December 16, and one year in ten frost holds on until February 25. Frost-sensitive planting usually waits for the late side of that band.
When is the first fall frost in Riverside?
The first fall frost arrives around December 25 in a typical year, as early as December 1 in an early year and as late as January 27 in a late one.
How long is the growing season in Riverside?
About 350 days, counted between the typical last spring frost and the typical first fall frost.
What USDA zone is Riverside in?
Riverside is in USDA hardiness zone 10a under the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Dates come from 30-year NOAA climate normals for the nearest reporting station. They describe odds, not a forecast.
Nearby cities
- Fontana, CA (around Jan 9 to Dec 30)
- Moreno Valley, CA (around Jan 27 to Dec 19)
- Corona, CA (around Jan 17 to Dec 19)
- San Bernardino, CA (around Jan 27 to Dec 19)
- Ontario, CA (around Jan 4 to Dec 30)
Row & Bed is a plant reference built around your garden: your zone, your frost dates, your forecast, and a cited page for every variety in your beds.
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