Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 93962 (Spreckels, 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, Salinas #2, CA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)311 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
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Vallecitos (53 mi), Merced 23 WSW (60 mi), Monocline Ridge (61 mi).
4-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 75°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Vallecitos (53 mi), Merced 23 WSW (60 mi), Monocline Ridge (61 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 93962 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°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 22 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 Sep 27–Oct 25
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 11–Nov 1
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 1
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 25
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 6: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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 25 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 11 |
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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 6 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 5 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 25 | Nov 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 4 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Dec 31 (prior Dec) | Dec 19 |
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 93962
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 4) and first fall frost (Dec 6). 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 10–24 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 10–24 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 10–24 | Jan 14–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 7–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (transplant) Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 24–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 12–26 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 21–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 31–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 10–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 12–26 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 12–26 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 7–14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 7–14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 7–14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 7–14 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 7–14 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 12–26 | Feb 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (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: Salinas #2, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00047668), elevation 45 ft, 2.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salinas Municipal AP, CA | 3 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 10 |
| Carmel Valley, CA | 11 mi | Feb 20 | Dec 8 |
| Monterey Peninsul AP, CA | 11 mi | Jan 2 | Dec 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 49 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 93962
When is the last frost in 93962?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93962 is February 4. For a more cautious planting date, use March 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93962?
The average first fall freeze is December 6. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 18.
What hardiness zone is 93962?
ZIP 93962 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 93962 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
93901 Salinas 93908 93905 Salinas 93906 Salinas 93955 Seaside 93933 Marina 93940 Monterey 93907 Prunedale
Other ZIP codes in Monterey County
93426 93450 93451 93901 93905 93906 93907 93908 93920 93921 93923 93924 93925 93926 93927 93928 93930 93932 93933 93940 93943 93944 93950 93953 All Monterey 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.