Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95320 (Escalon, 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, Stockton Metro AP, CA (13 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)304 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 (41 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 (41 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 95320 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 Mar 24 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 22–Oct 20
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 6–27
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 6–27
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 6–Nov 3
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 6–20
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 22–Oct 20
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 1: 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) | Dec 31 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 6 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 28 |
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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 26 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 10 | Nov 18 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 6 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 10 | Dec 16 |
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 95320
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 6) and first fall frost (Dec 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 | Dec 12–26 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 12–26 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 12–26 | Jan 16–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 9–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–27 (transplant) Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 26–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 12–26 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (transplant) Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 12–26 | Jan 9–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 9–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (transplant) Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 14–28 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 12–26 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 9–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Jan 23–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 9–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 2–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 20–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 16–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 12–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 14–28 | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 26–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 14–28 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 20–Nov 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 26–Jan 9 (transplant) | Oct 20–Nov 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 9–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 9–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 9–16 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 9–16 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 9–16 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 14–28 | Feb 13–20 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 16–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 22–Oct 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: Stockton Metro AP, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00023237), elevation 26 ft, 12.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto City Co AP, CA | 14 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| Tracy Carbona, CA | 21 mi | Feb 25 | Nov 26 |
| Stockton Fire STN 4, CA | 21 mi | Feb 5 | Dec 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 25 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95320
When is the last frost in 95320?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95320 is February 6. For a more cautious planting date, use February 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95320?
The average first fall freeze is December 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 15.
What hardiness zone is 95320?
ZIP 95320 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 95320 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
95367 Riverbank 95356 Modesto 95366 Ripon 95368 Salida 95350 Modesto 95355 Modesto 95336 Manteca 95357 Modesto
Other ZIP codes in San Joaquin County
95202 95203 95204 95205 95206 95207 95209 95210 95211 95212 95215 95219 95220 95227 95231 95236 95237 95240 95242 95253 95258 95304 95330 95336 All San Joaquin 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.