USDA hardiness zone lookup
Stockton, CA — USDA Zone 9b
Stockton, California · 286-day growing season
Frost dates and growing season in Stockton
| USDA hardiness zone | Zone 9b |
|---|---|
| Average last spring frost | February 18 |
| Average first fall frost | December 1 |
| Growing season length | ~286 days |
| Temperature range (F) | 20 to 30°F |
| Temperature range (C) | -7 to -1°C |
All of Stockton's mapped ZIP codes fall in the same hardiness band, Zone 9b.
These are 50%-probability averages modeled from Stockton's USDA hardiness zone and regional climate normals — not a single-station reading. In a typical year the last spring frost will have passed by February 18, but a colder-than-average year can run 1-2 weeks later. Plant tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) once both soil and night temperatures are consistently warm — a thermometer beats the calendar.
Growing season in Stockton
Stockton, California sits in USDA Zone 9b, with roughly 286 frost-free days between an average last spring frost around February 18 and a first fall frost around December 1. That is a near year-round season — the limiting factor is summer heat, not frost, so schedule cool-season crops for winter and protect tender ones from extreme highs.
What grows in Stockton
Stockton falls in USDA Zone 9b, so the same hardiness constraints apply as the full Zone 9 guide. Vegetables, herbs, and fruit trees rated to Zone 9b (or hardier) will overwinter here in a typical year.
- Tomatoes (year-round in many areas)
- Peppers (all year)
- Citrus (oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit)
- Avocado
- Mango (warmer areas)
- Banana
- Sweet potatoes
- Okra
- Southern peas
- Pomegranates
What to plant in Stockton this week
Stockton is in high summer — most spring plantings are in. Keep an eye on watering and start planning your fall crop. Cool-season seedlings (broccoli, cabbage, lettuce) can be started indoors for a fall transplant.
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 9
- When to plant peppers in zone 9
- When to plant bush beans in zone 9
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 9
- When to plant basil in zone 9
Full planting calendar for Stockton
Crop-by-crop sowing, transplant, and harvest dates calibrated to zone 9 averages:
- When to plant tomatoes in zone 9
- When to plant peppers in zone 9
- When to plant basil in zone 9
- When to plant garlic in zone 9
- When to plant lettuce in zone 9
- When to plant bush beans in zone 9
- When to plant cucumbers in zone 9
- When to plant summer squash in zone 9
- When to plant peas in zone 9
- When to plant carrots in zone 9
ZIP codes in Stockton
Drill down to the precise frost window and planting calendar for a specific ZIP in Stockton:
Local microclimate notes
Zone tables give you the average — but Stocktongardens vary. South-facing walls and paved areas can run a full half-zone warmer than the published rating. Low-lying spots, frost pockets, and shaded north sides can run colder. If you've gardened here a few seasons, your own frost record — the last time you actually got frost damage — beats any national average.
Source and methodology
Hardiness zone from the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (2023 revision). Frost-date and growing-season figures are modeled from Stockton's USDA hardiness zone and regional NOAA 1991-2020 climate normals — zone-level estimates, not a per-station record, so treat them as planning guidance and confirm against your own local frost history. Crop recommendations draw on US Cooperative Extension references, curated by the Growli editorial team. Last reviewed June 2026.
Other cities in California
- Adelanto, CA — USDA Zone 8b
- Anaheim, CA — USDA Zone 10b
- Bakersfield, CA — USDA Zone 9b
- Bell Gardens, CA — USDA Zone 10b
- Berkeley, CA — USDA Zone 10a
- Beverly Hills, CA — USDA Zone 10b
- Carlsbad, CA — USDA Zone 10b
- Chino, CA — USDA Zone 10a
- Chula Vista, CA — USDA Zone 10b
- Clovis, CA — USDA Zone 9b
- Costa Mesa, CA — USDA Zone 10b
- Crescent City, CA — USDA Zone 9a
- All of California by zone