Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 93636 (Bonadelle Ranchos, 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, CA (9 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)281 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 93636 (Bonadelle Ranchos)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 93636, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- 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.
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
70°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 Monocline Ridge (48 mi), Yosemite Village 12 W (54 mi), Merced 23 WSW (58 mi).
4-inch depth
71°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 72°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Monocline Ridge (48 mi), Yosemite Village 12 W (54 mi), Merced 23 WSW (58 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 93636 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 71°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 Apr 5 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 transplant Oct 2–23
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 2–23
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 2–30
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 27: 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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 18 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 18 |
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 10 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 27 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 18 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 25 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 18 | Nov 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 21 | Dec 10 |
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 93636
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 18) and first fall frost (Nov 27). 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 24–Jan 7 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 10–24 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 10–24 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 28–Feb 18 (transplant) Jan 21–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (transplant) Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 21–Feb 18 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 10–24 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 10–24 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 7–21 | Feb 4–25 (transplant) Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 14–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Aug 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 11–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 21–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 21–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 21–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 21–28 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 21–28 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 7–21 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Feb 25–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 7–21 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 10–24 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (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, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00045233), elevation 270 ft, 9.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Friant Government Camp, CA | 9 mi | Mar 9 | Dec 1 |
| Madera Muni AP, CA | 13 mi | Feb 12 | Nov 30 |
| Fresno Yosemite Intl AP, CA | 17 mi | Jan 14 | Dec 14 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 57 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 93636
When is the last frost in 93636?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93636 is February 18. For a more cautious planting date, use March 18, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93636?
The average first fall freeze is November 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 10.
What hardiness zone is 93636?
ZIP 93636 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 93636 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
93730 Fresno 93638 Madera Acres 93711 Fresno 93720 Fresno 93650 Fresno 93626 Millerton 93722 Fresno 93710 Fresno
Other ZIP codes in Madera County
93601 93604 93610 93614 93626 93637 93638 93643 93644 93645 93653 93669 All Madera County frost dates · California frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
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.