Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95121 (San Jose, 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 Jose, CA (6 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 56% of years (about 2 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 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)362 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
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
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 (51 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 (51 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 95121 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 Feb 17 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 16–Nov 13
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 2–30
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 2–30
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 10–24
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 10–24
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 10–24
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 10–24
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 16–Nov 13
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Tomato: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Tomatillo: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 30–Nov 20
- Lettuce: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 20
- Kale: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Collards: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
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 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jan 23 |
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 4 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 14 (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 26 | Dec 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 2 | Dec 25 |
| 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 95121
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 2) and first fall frost (Dec 25). 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 7–21 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 28–Sep 25 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 4–25 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 4–25 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 7–21 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 7–21 | Dec 12–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 5–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 20 (transplant) Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 21–Dec 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 7–21 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) Dec 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–30 (transplant) Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 7–21 | Dec 5–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 5–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–30 (transplant) Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 10–24 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 4–25 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 7–21 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) Dec 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 5–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 19–Jan 9 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 5–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 12–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Nov 28–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Nov 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 12–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 7–Dec 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 10–24 | Nov 21–Dec 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 21–Dec 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 10–24 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 13–Dec 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 21–Dec 5 (transplant) | Nov 13–Dec 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 4–18 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 5–12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 5–12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 5–12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 5–12 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 5–12 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 10–24 | Jan 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 12–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (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 Jose, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00047821), elevation 67 ft, 6.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Jose, CA | 7 mi | Jan 12 | Dec 22 |
| Mt Hamilton, CA | 10 mi | May 3 | Nov 18 |
| Los Gatos, CA | 10 mi | Feb 2 | Dec 6 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 125 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95121
When is the last frost in 95121?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95121 is January 2. For a more cautious planting date, use January 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95121?
The average first fall freeze is December 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 4.
What hardiness zone is 95121?
ZIP 95121 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 95121 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
95111 San Jose 95122 San Jose 95148 San Jose 95136 San Jose 95116 San Jose 95123 San Jose 95125 San Jose 95127 San Jose
Other ZIP codes in Santa Clara County
94022 94024 94040 94041 94043 94085 94086 94087 94089 94301 94303 94304 94305 94306 95002 95008 95013 95014 95020 95030 95032 95035 95037 95046 All Santa Clara 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.