Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95966 (Oroville East, 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, Oroville, CA (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJan 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)321 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
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 95966 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 Mar 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 4–Nov 1
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 18–Nov 8
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 8
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 15
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 4–Nov 1
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Radish: fall sowing Nov 1–15
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Garlic: fall sowing Nov 1–29
- Shallot: fall sowing Nov 1–29
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 13: 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 26 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 30 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 3 |
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 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 13 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 11 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 8 | Nov 27 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 30 | Dec 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 5 | Dec 25 |
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 95966
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 30) and first fall frost (Dec 13). 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 5–19 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 5–19 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 5–19 | Jan 9–30 (transplant) Jan 2–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 8 (transplant) Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 19–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 5–19 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) Jan 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 5–19 | Jan 2–30 (transplant) Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 7–21 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 5–19 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) Jan 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 9–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 26–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 5–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 7–21 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 7–21 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Nov 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 20–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 2–9 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 2–9 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 2–9 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 2–9 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 2–9 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 13–27 (transplant) Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 7–21 | Feb 6–13 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) Feb 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 9–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 30–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (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: Oroville, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00046521), elevation 171 ft, 8.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oroville Muni AP, CA | 11 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 7 |
| Dobbins 1 S, CA | 14 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 17 |
| Strawberry Valley, CA | 17 mi | May 4 | Oct 30 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 99 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95966
When is the last frost in 95966?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95966 is January 30. For a more cautious planting date, use March 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95966?
The average first fall freeze is December 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 21.
What hardiness zone is 95966?
ZIP 95966 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 95966 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
95914 Bangor 95972 95968 Palermo 95941 Forbestown 95919 Challenge-Brownsville 95925 Challenge-Brownsville 95965 Concow 95916 Berry Creek
Other ZIP codes in Butte County
95914 95916 95917 95926 95928 95929 95930 95938 95941 95942 95948 95954 95958 95965 95968 95969 95973 95974 95978 All Butte 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.