Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96116 (Likely, 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, Jess Valley, CA (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)94 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°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
57°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ash Valley (19 mi), Buckhorn (37 mi), Eagle Lake (47 mi).
4-inch depth
56°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ash Valley (19 mi), Buckhorn (37 mi), Eagle Lake (47 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 96116 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 56°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: Pacific Northwest (west of the Cascades). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jul 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) | Aug 31 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 3 |
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 14 | Sep 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 30 | Oct 1 |
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 96116
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 14) and first fall frost (Sep 18). 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 19–May 3 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Apr 5–19 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Apr 5–19 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 19–May 3 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 19–May 3 | May 24–Jun 14 (transplant) May 17–Jun 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 10–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 24 (transplant) Jun 12–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–Jun 14 (transplant) May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 24 (transplant) |
| Broccoli | Apr 5–19 | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 12–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Apr 5–19 | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 12–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Apr 5–19 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) | – |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 17–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | May 3–17 | May 31–Jun 21 (transplant) May 31–Jun 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 24–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | May 10–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 17–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 24–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet potato | – | Jul 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jul 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 17–24 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 17–24 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 17–24 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 17–24 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 17–24 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | May 3–17 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Jun 21–28 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | May 3–17 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 31–Jun 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Apr 5–19 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 24–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 10–Aug 7 (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: Jess Valley, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00044374), elevation 5,400 ft, 7.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alturas, CA | 17 mi | Jun 3 | Sep 13 |
| Alturas Muni AP, CA | 17 mi | Jun 3 | Sep 12 |
| Cedarville, CA | 23 mi | May 15 | Oct 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 30 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96116
When is the last frost in 96116?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96116 is June 14. For a more cautious planting date, use July 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96116?
The average first fall freeze is September 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 31.
What hardiness zone is 96116?
ZIP 96116 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 96116 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
96101 California Pines 96119 Madeline 96110 Eagleville 96104 Cedarville 96006 Adin 96132 96015 Canby 96123
Other ZIP codes in Modoc County
96015 96054 96101 96104 96108 96110 96112 96115 96134 97635 All Modoc County frost dates · California frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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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.