Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 94612 (Oakland, 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, Berkeley, CA (5 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 27% of years (about 1 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 350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 1 (next year)50% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)year-round in a typical yearmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10a30 to 35°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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 94612 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring February to March; fall 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 18 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
- Kale: fall sowing Sep 25–Oct 23
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 9–Nov 6
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 25–Oct 23
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 9–Nov 6
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 25–Oct 23
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 25–Oct 23
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 25–Oct 23
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 11–25
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 11–25
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 11–25
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 9–23
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 11–25
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Tomato: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
- Tomatillo: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 23–Nov 20
- Lettuce: fall transplant Nov 6–27
- Lettuce: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Spinach: fall sowing Nov 6–27
- Kale: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Collards: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
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 14 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 14 |
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 10 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 1 (next year) |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 29 (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 5 | Dec 19 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 3 | Jan 1 (next year) |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | n/a | n/a |
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 94612
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 3) and first fall frost (Jan 1). 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 8–22 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 8–22 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 8–22 | Dec 13–Jan 3 (transplant) Dec 6–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 6–27 (transplant) Oct 23–Nov 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 22–Dec 13 (sow outdoors) | Nov 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 8–22 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) Dec 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (transplant) Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 8–22 | Dec 6–Jan 3 (transplant) Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–Nov 6 (transplant) Sep 25–Oct 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Sep 25–Oct 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 11–25 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 11–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 8–22 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) Dec 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Nov 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Nov 6–Dec 4 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Nov 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Dec 20–Jan 10 (transplant) Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 13–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Nov 29–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Nov 20–Dec 4 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 13–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 8–Dec 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 11–25 | Nov 22–Dec 6 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 22–Dec 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 23–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 11–25 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 20–Dec 18 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 22–Dec 6 (transplant) | Nov 20–Dec 18 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 6–13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 6–13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 9–23 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 6–13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 6–13 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 6–13 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 11–25 | Jan 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) Dec 13–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Oct 23–Nov 20 (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: Berkeley, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00040693), elevation 310 ft, 4.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oakland Metro Intl AP, CA | 6 mi | Jan 7 | Dec 23 |
| Richmond, CA | 10 mi | Jan 4 | Jan 2 (next year) |
| Hayward Air Terminal, CA | 13 mi | Jan 2 | Dec 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 94612
When is the last frost in 94612?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 94612 is January 3. For a more cautious planting date, use February 14, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 94612?
The average first fall freeze is January 1 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 10.
What hardiness zone is 94612?
ZIP 94612 is in USDA zone 10a (30 to 35°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 94612 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
94610 Oakland 94606 Oakland 94609 Oakland 94607 Oakland 94608 Oakland 94501 Alameda 94618 Oakland 94611 Oakland
Other ZIP codes in Alameda County
94501 94502 94536 94538 94539 94541 94542 94544 94545 94546 94550 94551 94552 94555 94560 94566 94568 94577 94578 94579 94580 94586 94587 94588 All Alameda 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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- 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.