Fall in zone 10bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 92678 (Trabuco Canyon, 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, Elsinore, CA (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJan 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)329 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
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 (23 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 (23 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 92678 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 Mar 15 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 9–Nov 6
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 25–Oct 23
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 25–Oct 23
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 9–Nov 6
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 23–Nov 13
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 23–Nov 13
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 23–Nov 6
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 23–Nov 20
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 23–Nov 6
- Radish: fall sowing Nov 6–20
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Garlic: fall sowing Nov 6–Dec 4
- Shallot: fall sowing Nov 6–Dec 4
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
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 24 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 27 |
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 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 24 (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 28 | Dec 2 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 28 | Dec 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 1 | Dec 27 |
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 92678
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 28) and first fall frost (Dec 18). 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 | Dec 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 3–17 | Jan 7–28 (transplant) Dec 31–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 13 (transplant) Oct 9–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 17–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (transplant) Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 28 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (transplant) Sep 11–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 9 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 20 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 17–31 | Jan 14–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 24–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Nov 6–20 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 5–19 | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 17–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 6–Dec 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | Nov 6–Dec 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 25–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 5–19 | Feb 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 17–31 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (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: Elsinore, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00042805), elevation 1,268 ft, 9.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tustin Irvine Rch, CA | 15 mi | Jan 5 | Dec 25 |
| Laguna Beach, CA | 17 mi | Jan 6 | Jan 2 (next year) |
| Riverside Muni AP, CA | 21 mi | Jan 9 | Dec 30 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 92678
When is the last frost in 92678?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 92678 is January 28. For a more cautious planting date, use February 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 92678?
The average first fall freeze is December 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 1.
What hardiness zone is 92678?
ZIP 92678 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 92678 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
92679 Coto de Caza 92688 Rancho Santa Margarita 92883 Temescal Valley 92530 Lake Elsinore 92692 Mission Viejo 92610 Lake Forest 92676 Silverado 92691 Mission Viejo
Other ZIP codes in Orange County
90620 90621 90623 90630 90631 90680 90720 90740 90742 90743 92602 92603 92604 92606 92610 92612 92614 92617 92618 92620 92624 92625 92626 92627 All Orange County frost dates · California frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.