Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 93301 (Bakersfield, 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, Bakersfield 5 NW, CA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJan 3150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)312 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
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 69°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cochora Ranch (37 mi), Stubblefield (39 mi).
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 75°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Cochora Ranch (37 mi), Stubblefield (39 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 93301 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 74°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 Mar 18 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 29–Oct 27
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 13–Nov 3
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 13–Nov 3
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 13–Nov 10
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 13–27
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 29–Oct 27
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 10
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 24
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 27–Nov 24
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 8–22
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 8: 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 31 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 31 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 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) | Nov 23 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 1 (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 2 | Nov 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 31 | Dec 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 3 | Dec 20 |
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 93301
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 31) and first fall frost (Dec 8). 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 6–20 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 6–20 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 6–20 | Jan 10–31 (transplant) Jan 3–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–Nov 3 (transplant) Sep 29–Oct 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 20–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–Nov 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–31 (transplant) Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–Oct 13 (transplant) Sep 1–29 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 1–29 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 8 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 6–20 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Jan 17–Feb 7 (transplant) Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 10–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 27–Feb 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 27–Nov 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 8–22 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Sep 29–Oct 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 8–22 | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 27–Nov 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Oct 27–Nov 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 21–Mar 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 21–Mar 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 15–29 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 3–10 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 3–10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 3–10 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 14–28 (transplant) Feb 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 8–22 | Feb 7–14 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 20–Jan 3 | Feb 7–21 (transplant) Feb 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 17–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 10–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 31–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 3–17 (transplant) | Sep 29–Oct 27 (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: Bakersfield 5 NW, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00040444), elevation 470 ft, 2.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakersfield AP, CA | 4 mi | Jan 17 | Dec 15 |
| Shafter 6E, CA | 10 mi | Feb 20 | Nov 23 |
| Wasco, CA | 23 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 34 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 93301
When is the last frost in 93301?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93301 is January 31. For a more cautious planting date, use February 27, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93301?
The average first fall freeze is December 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 23.
What hardiness zone is 93301?
ZIP 93301 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 93301 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
93305 Bakersfield 93304 Bakersfield 93309 Bakersfield 93312 Bakersfield 93307 Bakersfield 93241 Weedpatch 93308 Oildale 93314 Rosedale
Other ZIP codes in Kern County
93203 93205 93206 93215 93220 93222 93224 93226 93240 93241 93243 93249 93250 93251 93255 93263 93268 93276 93280 93283 93285 93287 93304 93305 All Kern 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.