Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 94804 (Richmond, 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, Richmond, CA (2 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 22% of years (about 0 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 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostJan 2 (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 94804 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 19 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 26–Oct 24
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 10–Nov 7
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 26–Oct 24
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 10–Nov 7
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 26–Oct 24
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 26–Oct 24
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 26–Oct 24
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 12–26
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 12–26
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 12–26
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 12–26
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 26–Nov 9
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 26–Nov 9
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 24–Nov 21
- Lettuce: fall transplant Nov 7–28
- Spinach: fall sowing Nov 7–28
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 26–Nov 9
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 26–Nov 9
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Oct 26–Nov 9
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 24–Nov 7
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Nov 7–21
- Arugula: fall sowing Nov 7–Dec 5
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Nov 7–21
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 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jan 26 |
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 11 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Jan 2 (next year) |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 22 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jan 17 | Dec 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 4 | Jan 2 (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 94804
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 4) and first fall frost (Jan 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 | Nov 9–23 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 5–Oct 3 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 9–23 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 9–23 | Dec 14–Jan 4 (transplant) Dec 7–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–28 (transplant) Oct 24–Nov 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 23–Dec 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 9–23 | Dec 7–21 (transplant) Dec 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (transplant) Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 9–23 | Dec 7–Jan 4 (transplant) Dec 7–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (transplant) Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 12–26 | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 12–Oct 3 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 9–23 | Dec 7–21 (transplant) Dec 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 7–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–Dec 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Dec 21–Jan 11 (transplant) Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 7–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 14–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Nov 30–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 21–Dec 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 14–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 12–26 | Nov 23–Dec 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 23–Dec 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 12–26 | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 21–Dec 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 23–Dec 7 (transplant) | Nov 21–Dec 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 12–26 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 7–14 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 7–14 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 7–14 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 7–14 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 7–14 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 12–26 | Jan 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 26–Nov 9 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) Dec 14–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 7–21 (transplant) | Oct 24–Nov 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: Richmond, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00047414), elevation 20 ft, 2.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berkeley, CA | 5 mi | Jan 3 | Jan 1 (next year) |
| Kentfield, CA | 12 mi | Jan 16 | Dec 18 |
| San Rafael Civic Ctr, CA | 12 mi | Jan 11 | Dec 21 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 13 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 94804
When is the last frost in 94804?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 94804 is January 4. For a more cautious planting date, use January 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 94804?
The average first fall freeze is January 2 (next year). In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 11.
What hardiness zone is 94804?
ZIP 94804 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 94804 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
94805 Richmond 94530 El Cerrito 94706 Albany 94707 Berkeley 94710 Berkeley 94801 Richmond 94803 Richmond 94708 Berkeley
Other ZIP codes in Contra Costa County
94505 94506 94507 94509 94511 94513 94514 94516 94517 94518 94519 94520 94521 94523 94525 94526 94528 94530 94531 94547 94548 94549 94553 94556 All Contra Costa 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.