Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96096 (Whitmore, 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, Manzanita Lake, CA (17 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)102 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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 66°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of French Gulch (37 mi), Redding 12 WNW (38 mi), Eagle Lake (60 mi).
4-inch depth
70°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 71°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of French Gulch (37 mi), Redding 12 WNW (38 mi), Eagle Lake (60 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 96096 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 70°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 Jul 25 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
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) | May 21 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 27 |
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) | Sep 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 21 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 11 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 9 | Sep 21 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 22 | Oct 11 |
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 96096
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 9) and first fall frost (Sep 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 | Apr 14–28 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 14–28 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 14–28 | May 19–Jun 9 (transplant) May 12–Jun 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (transplant) Jul 13–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 17 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 14–28 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) Jun 15–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 14–28 | May 12–Jun 9 (transplant) May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 27 (transplant) Jun 15–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | Jun 15–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 1–22 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 14–28 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 24 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 12–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 28–May 12 | May 26–Jun 16 (transplant) May 26–Jun 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 19–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | May 5–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 10–24 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 12–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 19–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jun 29–Jul 13 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 17–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 13–27 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 1–15 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 30–Jul 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 12–19 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 12–19 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 12–19 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 12–19 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 12–19 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 28–May 12 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 17–31 | Jun 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 28–May 12 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 26–Jun 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 19–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 27–Aug 10 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (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: Manzanita Lake, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00045311), elevation 5,750 ft, 17.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burney, CA | 20 mi | Jun 3 | Sep 14 |
| Redding Muni AP, CA | 24 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 21 |
| Mineral, CA | 24 mi | Jun 10 | Sep 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 100 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96096
When is the last frost in 96096?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96096 is June 9. For a more cautious planting date, use June 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96096?
The average first fall freeze is September 21. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 1.
What hardiness zone is 96096?
ZIP 96096 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 96096 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
96069 Oak Run 96088 Shingletown 96084 Round Mountain 96062 Millville 96008 Bella Vista 96059 Manton 96073 Palo Cedro 96065 Montgomery Creek
Other ZIP codes in Shasta County
96001 96002 96003 96007 96008 96011 96013 96016 96017 96019 96028 96033 96040 96047 96051 96062 96065 96069 96071 96073 96084 96087 96088 All Shasta 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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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.