Fall in zone 10bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 92124 (San Diego, CA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, El Cajon, CA (9 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 73% of years (about 2 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)350 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10b35 to 40°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Fallbrook 5 NE (43 mi).
4-inch depth
78°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Fallbrook 5 NE (43 mi).
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 92124 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 78°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically September to October).
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: California coastal and valleys. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Feb 21 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 14–28
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 14–28
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 14–28
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 14–28
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 9
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 26–Nov 16
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 16
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 23
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Parsley: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Dec 13 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 6 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 7 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Dec 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 15 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 6 | Dec 6 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 6 | Dec 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Dec 31 (prior Dec) | Dec 30 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 92124
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 6) and first fall frost (Dec 21). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Nov 11–25 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 11–25 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 11–25 | Dec 16–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 9–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 16 (transplant) Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 25–Dec 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 11–25 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) Dec 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 11–25 | Dec 9–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 9–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 14–28 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 11–25 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) Dec 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 9–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 23–Jan 13 (transplant) Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 9–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 16–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 2–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 16–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 14–28 | Nov 25–Dec 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 25–Dec 23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 14–28 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 25–Dec 9 (transplant) | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 27–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 9–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 9–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 9–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 9–16 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 9–16 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 14–28 | Jan 13–20 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 16–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: El Cajon, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00042706), elevation 495 ft, 9.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rancho Bernardo, CA | 13 mi | Jan 5 | Jan 2 (next year) |
| El Capitan Dam, CA | 16 mi | Mar 19 | Dec 8 |
| Ramona Fire Dept, CA | 16 mi | Mar 4 | Dec 4 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 76 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 92124
When is the last frost in 92124?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 92124 is January 6. For a more cautious planting date, use February 7, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 92124?
The average first fall freeze is December 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 1.
What hardiness zone is 92124?
ZIP 92124 is in USDA zone 10b (35 to 40°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 92124 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
92120 San Diego 92123 San Diego 92119 San Diego 92182 San Diego 92145 San Diego 92115 San Diego 92116 San Diego 92108 San Diego
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.