Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 94551 (Livermore, 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, Livermore, CA (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)292 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
69°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Merced 23 WSW (59 mi).
4-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Merced 23 WSW (59 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 94551 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 68°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 Apr 2 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 23–Oct 21
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 7–28
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 7–28
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 2: 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) | Jan 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 13 |
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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 2 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 28 |
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 18 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 15 | Dec 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 10 | Dec 18 |
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 94551
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 15) and first fall frost (Dec 2). 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 21–Jan 4 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 7–21 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 7–21 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 25–Feb 15 (transplant) Jan 18–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–28 (transplant) Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 15 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 7–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 7–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 7–21 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 18–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 4–18 | Feb 1–22 (transplant) Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 11–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 18–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 21–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Oct 21–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 12–26 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 18–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 18–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 18–25 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 18–25 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 18–25 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 4–18 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Feb 22–Mar 1 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 4–18 | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 7–21 | Feb 1–15 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (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: Livermore, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00044997), elevation 393 ft, 5.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Livermore Muni AP, CA | 5 mi | Feb 27 | Dec 1 |
| Tracy Pumping Plt, CA | 10 mi | Jan 19 | Dec 10 |
| Mt Diablo Junction, CA | 13 mi | Mar 8 | Dec 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 51 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 94551
When is the last frost in 94551?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 94551 is February 15. For a more cautious planting date, use March 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 94551?
The average first fall freeze is December 2. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 16.
What hardiness zone is 94551?
ZIP 94551 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 94551 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
94588 Pleasanton 94514 Byron 95391 Mountain House 94568 Dublin 94566 Pleasanton 94582 San Ramon 94506 Blackhawk 94505 Discovery Bay
Other ZIP codes in Alameda County
94501 94502 94536 94538 94539 94541 94542 94544 94545 94546 94550 94552 94555 94560 94566 94568 94577 94578 94579 94580 94586 94587 94588 94601 All Alameda County frost dates · California frost dates
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- 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.