Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 93610 (Chowchilla, 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, Madera Muni AP, CA (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)293 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
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Merced 23 WSW (34 mi), Monocline Ridge (40 mi), Vallecitos (49 mi).
4-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Merced 23 WSW (34 mi), Monocline Ridge (40 mi), Vallecitos (49 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 93610 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 73°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 30 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 21–Oct 19
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 5–26
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 5–26
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 5–Nov 2
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 30: 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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 12 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 17 |
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 14 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 30 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 3 (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 23 | Nov 15 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 12 | Nov 30 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 7 | Dec 15 |
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 93610
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 12) and first fall frost (Nov 30). 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 18–Jan 1 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 4–18 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 10–31 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 4–18 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | Aug 10–31 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 22–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 15–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–26 (transplant) Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 15–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 24–Sep 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 4–18 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 4–18 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 4–18 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Aug 24–Sep 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 10–31 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 19 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 8–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 22–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 18–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 21–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 19–Nov 16 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Oct 19–Nov 16 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Aug 10–24 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 15–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 15–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 7–21 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 15–22 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 15–22 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 15–22 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 1–15 | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Feb 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 1–15 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 4–18 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 22–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (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: Madera Muni AP, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00093242), elevation 253 ft, 12.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Madera, CA | 17 mi | Feb 18 | Nov 27 |
| Merced Muni AP, CA | 18 mi | Feb 26 | Nov 25 |
| Merced, CA | 19 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 24 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 22 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 93610
When is the last frost in 93610?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93610 is February 12. For a more cautious planting date, use March 17, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93610?
The average first fall freeze is November 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 14.
What hardiness zone is 93610?
ZIP 93610 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 93610 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
95333 Le Grand 95317 El Nido 93637 Madera 93638 Madera Acres 95365 Planada 95341 Merced 93620 Dos Palos Y 95340 Merced
Other ZIP codes in Madera County
93601 93604 93614 93626 93636 93637 93638 93643 93644 93645 93653 93669 All Madera 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.