Rancho Santa Margarita, CA frost dates
Last spring frostRaremost years have none
First fall frostRaremost years have none
Hardiness zone10bZone 10b
Gardening where frost is rare
Rancho Santa Margarita, CA rarely or never drops to freezing, so the usual "plant after the last frost" rule doesn't apply. Heat and rainfall decide the seasons instead:
- Cool-season crops (lettuce, broccoli, peas, carrots) grow best from fall through late winter.
- Warm-season crops (tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash) do best planted in late winter to spring, and again in late summer for a fall crop — midsummer heat can stop tomatoes setting fruit.
- Heat lovers (okra, sweet potatoes, melons) can be planted through spring and early summer.
How Rancho Santa Margarita compares
- Rancho Santa Margarita shares its weather station with Mission Viejo, CA, 7 km away, so the two have the same frost dates.
About these dates
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the Irvine Rch, CA weather station, 14 km away (elevation 541 ft (165 m)).
Frost dates near Rancho Santa Margarita
- Trabuco Canyon rare frost
- Mission Viejo rare frost
- Foothill Ranch rare frost
- Lake Forest Jan 5 · Dec 25
- El Toro Jan 5 · Dec 25
- Silverado rare frost
- Ladera Ranch Jan 6 · Jan 2
- Laguna Hills Jan 6 · Jan 2
- Laguna Woods Jan 6 · Jan 2
- East Irvine Jan 5 · Dec 25
Frequently asked questions
When is the last frost in Rancho Santa Margarita, CA?
In most years Rancho Santa Margarita, CA has no frost at all. The nearest NOAA station averages 1 nights a year at or below 32°F — too few to calculate a typical frost date.