One of the best tools that you have as gardeners to help us estimate your gardening schedule is the USDA zone info. The most important data that the zone info tells us is average last frost and the lowest expected temperature for your area.

By referring to the USDA zone info for Arcata it's a good idea to estimate when it's a good idea to plant zucchini.

Planting Calendar for Zucchini

Frost tolerance for zucchini:	Not tolerant of frost.
When to plant:	After the last frost has passed.

Since zucchini require warm weather it's important to wait until after the last frost when the weather gets warmer before you can plant them.

The earliest that you can plant zucchini in Arcata is March. However, you really should wait until April if you don't want to take any chances.

The last month that you can plant zucchini and expect a good harvest is probably September. You probably don't want to wait any later than that or else your zucchini may not have a chance to really do well. Starting your zucchini indoors is a great way to get them started a few weeks earlier.

Last Frost Date

In Arcata the average date of last frost happens on February 15. You can expect an average low temperature of 25°F in the coldest months of winter.

It's important to remember that USDA zone info for Arcata is an average and the actual date of last frost will vary from year to year. Half of the time in Arcata you get surprised by a frost after February 15 so just be sure to be ready to protect your zucchini in the event of a late frost.

USDA Zone Info for Arcata

Here is the info for USDA Zone 9b.

Average Date of Last Frost (spring)	February 15
Average Date of First Frost (fall)	December 15
Lowest Expected Low	25°F
Highest Expected Low	30°F

This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is 25°F. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near 30°F.

Plants to Grow in Arcata

You may be interested in your other planting guides for Arcata.