Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 94973 (Woodacre, 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, San Rafael Civic Ctr, CA (6 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 70% of years (about 3 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 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)349 daysmedian, 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 94973 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 26 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 12–Nov 9
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 9
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Nov 2–16
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Nov 2–16
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 26–Nov 16
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 16
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Nov 2–16
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Nov 2–16
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Nov 2–16
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 19–Nov 2
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 23
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 26–Nov 9
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 19–Nov 2
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 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 25 |
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 2 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 9 (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 22 | Dec 5 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 11 | Dec 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Dec 31 (prior Dec) | 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 94973
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 11) and first fall frost (Dec 21). 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 16–30 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 2–16 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 2–16 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 16–30 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 16–30 | Dec 21–Jan 11 (transplant) Dec 14–Jan 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 16 (transplant) Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 30–Dec 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 16 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 16–30 | Dec 14–28 (transplant) Dec 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 16–30 | Dec 14–Jan 11 (transplant) Dec 14–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 2–16 | Dec 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 2–16 | Dec 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 2–16 | Dec 28–Jan 11 (transplant) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 19–Nov 2 | Dec 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 16–30 | Dec 14–28 (transplant) Dec 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 14–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 14–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Dec 28–Jan 18 (transplant) Dec 28–Jan 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 14–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 7–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 9–23 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 14–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 21–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 16–Dec 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 19–Nov 2 | Nov 30–Dec 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 30–Dec 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 19–Nov 2 | Dec 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 30–Dec 14 (transplant) | Nov 9–Dec 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 14–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 14–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 14–21 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 14–21 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 14–21 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 19–Nov 2 | Jan 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 28–Jan 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 2–16 | Dec 28–Jan 11 (transplant) Dec 21–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 14–28 (transplant) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (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: San Rafael Civic Ctr, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00047880), elevation 120 ft, 5.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentfield, CA | 6 mi | Jan 16 | Dec 18 |
| Richmond, CA | 16 mi | Jan 4 | Jan 2 (next year) |
| Petaluma AP, CA | 17 mi | Feb 28 | Nov 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 55 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 94973
When is the last frost in 94973?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 94973 is January 11. For a more cautious planting date, use February 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 94973?
The average first fall freeze is December 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 2.
What hardiness zone is 94973?
ZIP 94973 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 94973 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
94963 San Geronimo 94933 Lagunitas-Forest Knolls 94930 Fairfax 94960 Sleepy Hollow 94903 San Rafael 94938 Lagunitas-Forest Knolls 94946 Nicasio 94957 Ross
Other ZIP codes in Marin County
94901 94903 94904 94920 94924 94925 94929 94930 94933 94937 94938 94939 94940 94941 94945 94946 94947 94949 94950 94952 94956 94957 94960 94963 All Marin County frost dates · California frost dates
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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.