Frost dates for ZIP 93920 (Monterey County, 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, Big Sur STN, CA (20 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 83% of years (about 3 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostFeb 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)323 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10b35 to 40°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 79°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Vallecitos (53 mi).
4-inch depth
72°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 77°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Vallecitos (53 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 93920 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 72°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 31 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
- Kale: fall sowing Sep 20–Oct 18
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 4–Nov 1
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 20–Oct 18
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 4–Nov 1
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 4–18
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 15
- Lettuce: fall transplant Nov 1–22
- Spinach: fall sowing Nov 1–22
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Nov 1–15
- Arugula: fall sowing Nov 1–29
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Nov 1–15
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Cilantro: fall sowing Nov 1–15
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) | Dec 26 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 13 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 1 |
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 27 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Feb 22 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 13 | Nov 28 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 13 | Dec 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 25 | Jan 6 (next year) |
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 93920
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 13) and first fall frost (Dec 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 19–Jan 2 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 5–19 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Sep 6–27 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 5–19 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Sep 6–27 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 23–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 16–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–22 (transplant) Oct 18–Nov 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (transplant) Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (transplant) Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 5–19 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 5–19 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 16–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 2–16 | Jan 30–Feb 20 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 9–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Nov 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 16–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 15–Dec 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Nov 15–Dec 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 16–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 16–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 16–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 16–23 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 16–23 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Feb 20–27 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 2–16 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Oct 18–Nov 15 (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: Big Sur STN, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00040790), elevation 200 ft, 20.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| King City, CA | 24 mi | Feb 23 | Nov 22 |
| Carmel Valley, CA | 32 mi | Feb 20 | Dec 8 |
| Hearst Castle, CA | 32 mi | Feb 13 | Feb 1 (next year) |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 10 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 93920
When is the last frost in 93920?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93920 is February 13. For a more cautious planting date, use April 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93920?
The average first fall freeze is December 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 23.
What hardiness zone is 93920?
ZIP 93920 is in USDA zone 10b (35 to 40°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 93920 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
93928 93927 Greenfield 93932 Lockwood 93924 Carmel Valley Village 93930 King City 93960 Soledad 93452 San Simeon 93923
Other ZIP codes in Monterey County
93426 93450 93451 93901 93905 93906 93907 93908 93921 93923 93924 93925 93926 93927 93928 93930 93932 93933 93940 93943 93944 93950 93953 93954 All Monterey County frost dates · California frost dates
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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.