Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 93242 (Laton, 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, Hanford 1 S, CA (10 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 750% 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)296 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
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Monocline Ridge (46 mi), Vallecitos (54 mi).
4-inch depth
77°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 78°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Monocline Ridge (46 mi), Vallecitos (54 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 93242 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 77°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically 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 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
- 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) | Jan 9 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 4 |
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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 22 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 3 | Nov 17 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 7 | Dec 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 12 | Dec 14 |
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 93242
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 7) 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 13–27 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 13–27 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 13–27 | Jan 17–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 10–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–27 (transplant) Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 27–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 13–27 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (transplant) Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 13–27 | Jan 10–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (transplant) Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 15–29 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 13–27 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Jan 24–Feb 14 (transplant) Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 3–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 20–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 17–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 13–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 15–29 | Dec 27–Jan 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 27–Jan 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 15–29 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 20–Nov 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 27–Jan 10 (transplant) | Oct 20–Nov 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 28–Mar 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 28–Mar 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 10–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 10–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 10–17 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 10–17 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 10–17 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) Feb 21–Mar 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 15–29 | Feb 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 27–Jan 10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 24–Feb 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 29–Dec 13 | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 17–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 10–24 (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: Hanford 1 S, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00043747), elevation 237 ft, 10.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hanford Muni AP, CA | 10 mi | Feb 20 | Nov 23 |
| Lemoore Reeves NAS, CA | 14 mi | Feb 24 | Nov 22 |
| Fresno 5 NE, CA | 23 mi | Jan 30 | Dec 11 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 25 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 93242
When is the last frost in 93242?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93242 is February 7. For a more cautious planting date, use March 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93242?
The average first fall freeze is December 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 16.
What hardiness zone is 93242?
ZIP 93242 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 93242 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
93662 Selma 93202 Armona 93609 Caruthers 93656 Riverdale 93230 Hanford 93631 Kingsburg 93245 Lemoore 93725 Fresno
Other ZIP codes in Fresno County
93210 93234 93602 93605 93606 93608 93609 93611 93612 93616 93619 93621 93622 93624 93625 93627 93628 93630 93634 93640 93641 93648 93650 93651 All Fresno County frost dates · California frost dates
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- 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.