Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96142 (Tahoma, 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, Tahoma, CA (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)120 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 96142, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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 96142 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 March to April.
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 19 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 4 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 20 |
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 17 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 16 |
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 4 | Oct 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 15 | Oct 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 96142
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 4) and first fall frost (Oct 3). 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 9–23 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 26–Apr 9 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 9–23 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 9–23 | May 14–Jun 4 (transplant) May 7–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (transplant) Jul 25–Aug 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 23–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 9–23 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 9–23 | May 7–Jun 4 (transplant) May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–Aug 8 (transplant) Jun 27–Jul 25 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) | Jun 27–Jul 25 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 13–Jul 4 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 9–23 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 23–May 7 | May 21–Jun 11 (transplant) May 21–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 30–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 22–Sep 5 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 11–25 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 12–26 | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 23–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 25–Aug 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 23–May 7 (transplant) | Aug 22–Sep 19 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jun 13–27 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 25–Jul 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 7–14 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 7–14 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 7–14 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 7–14 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 7–14 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 23–May 7 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 12–26 | Jun 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 23–May 7 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 21–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 26–Apr 9 | May 21–Jun 4 (transplant) May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 7–21 (transplant) | Jul 25–Aug 22 (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: Tahoma, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00048760), elevation 6,315 ft, 4.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glenbrook, NV | 10 mi | Jun 5 | Oct 9 |
| Dagget Pass, NV | 11 mi | Jun 7 | Sep 28 |
| Tahoe City, CA | 12 mi | Jun 9 | Sep 25 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 5 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96142
When is the last frost in 96142?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96142 is June 4. For a more cautious planting date, use June 20, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96142?
The average first fall freeze is October 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 17.
What hardiness zone is 96142?
ZIP 96142 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 96142 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
96141 96150 South Lake Tahoe 89448 Round Hill Village 89449 Kingsbury 89413 Glenbrook 95735 95721 96145 Sunnyside-Tahoe City
Other ZIP codes in El Dorado County
95613 95614 95619 95623 95633 95634 95635 95636 95651 95664 95667 95672 95682 95684 95709 95720 95721 95726 95735 95762 96150 96155 All El Dorado 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
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.