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.

A way of getting a good idea when it's possible to plant alternaria is to consult the USDA zone info for Shafter.

Planting Calendar for Alternaria

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

Since alternaria do not do well in cold weather you really should wait until after the last frost before you can plant them.

The earliest that you can plant alternaria in Shafter 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 alternaria and expect a good harvest is probably September. You probably don't want to wait any later than that or else your alternaria may not have a chance to grow to maturity. Starting your alternaria indoors is a great way to get them started a few weeks earlier.

Last Frost Date

In Shafter the average date of last frost happens on February 15. You should expect an average low temperature of 20°F in the coldest months of winter.

Always keep in mind that the actual date of last frost is an average because it is based on the USDA zone info for Shafter and it is different every year. Since half of the time in Shafter last frost occurs after February 15 be ready to cover your alternaria if you have a surprise late frost.

USDA Zone Info for Shafter

Here is the info for USDA Zone 9a.

Average Date of Last Frost (spring)	February 15
Average Date of First Frost (fall)	December 15
Lowest Expected Low	20°F
Highest Expected Low	25°F

This means that on a really cold year, the coldest it will get is 20°F. On most years you should be prepared to experience lows near 25°F.

Plants to Grow in Shafter

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