Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 93440 (Los Alamos, 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, Lompoc, CA (14 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 81% of years (about 4 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 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)335 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°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
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Santa Barbara 11 W (33 mi), Cochora Ranch (45 mi), Stubblefield (46 mi).
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Santa Barbara 11 W (33 mi), Cochora Ranch (45 mi), Stubblefield (46 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 93440 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 7 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 10–Nov 7
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 26–Oct 24
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 26–Oct 24
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 10–Nov 7
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 24–Nov 14
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 24–Nov 14
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 24–Nov 7
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 24–Nov 21
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 24–Nov 7
- Radish: fall sowing Nov 7–21
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Garlic: fall sowing Nov 7–Dec 5
- Shallot: fall sowing Nov 7–Dec 5
- Celery: 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 16 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 24 |
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) | Nov 27 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 19 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 26 (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 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 20 | Dec 19 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 1 | Dec 29 |
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 93440
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 20) and first fall frost (Dec 19). 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 25–Dec 9 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 11–25 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 19 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 11–25 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 19 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 30–Jan 20 (transplant) Dec 23–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 14 (transplant) Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 23–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (transplant) Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 23–Jan 20 (transplant) Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (transplant) Sep 12–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 11–25 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 11–25 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 11–25 | Jan 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 19 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 23–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 23–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 9–23 | Jan 6–27 (transplant) Jan 6–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 30–Jan 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 16–Jan 27 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 23–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 30–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 25–Dec 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 9–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 7–Dec 5 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Nov 7–Dec 5 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 12 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 10–Mar 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 23–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 23–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 23–30 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 23–30 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 23–30 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 9–23 | Feb 3–17 (transplant) Feb 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Jan 27–Feb 3 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 9–23 | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) Jan 27–Feb 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 6–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 11–25 | Jan 6–20 (transplant) Dec 30–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (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: Lompoc, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00045064), elevation 75 ft, 13.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Maria Public AP, CA | 14 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 13 |
| Twitchell Dam, CA | 16 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 4 |
| Cachuma Lake, CA | 20 mi | Apr 11 | Nov 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 84 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 93440
When is the last frost in 93440?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93440 is January 20. For a more cautious planting date, use February 24, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93440?
The average first fall freeze is December 19. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 27.
What hardiness zone is 93440?
ZIP 93440 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 93440 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
93427 Buellton 93441 Los Olivos 93454 Sisquoc 93463 Solvang 93436 Lompoc 93455 Orcutt 93437 Vandenberg AFB 93429 Casmalia
Other ZIP codes in Santa Barbara County
93013 93067 93101 93103 93105 93106 93108 93109 93110 93111 93117 93254 93427 93429 93434 93436 93437 93441 93454 93455 93458 93460 93463 All Santa Barbara County frost dates · California frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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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.