Frost dates for ZIP 93940 (Monterey, 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, Monterey Peninsul AP, CA (3 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 53% of years (about 2 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 frostJan 250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)363 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10a30 to 35°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 (61 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 (61 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 93940 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 Feb 17 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 Oct 14–Nov 11
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 10–24
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 10–24
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 10–24
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 10–24
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 14–Nov 11
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Tomato: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Tomatillo: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 28–Nov 18
- Lettuce: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 18
- Kale: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Collards: start seeds indoors Nov 7–21
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Oct 24–Nov 7
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 6 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 2 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jan 20 |
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) | Dec 1 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 23 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 12 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jan 27 | Dec 7 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 2 | Dec 23 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | n/a | n/a |
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 93940
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 2) and first fall frost (Dec 23). 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 | Nov 7–21 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 7–21 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 7–21 | Dec 12–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 5–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 18 (transplant) Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 21–Dec 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 7–21 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) Dec 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 7–21 | Dec 5–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 5–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 10–24 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 2–23 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 7–21 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) Dec 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 5–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 25 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Dec 19–Jan 9 (transplant) Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 5–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 12–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Nov 28–Jan 9 (sow outdoors) | Nov 11–25 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 5–26 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 12–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 7–Dec 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 10–24 | Nov 21–Dec 5 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 21–Dec 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 10–24 | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 21–Dec 5 (transplant) | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Sep 2–16 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 5–12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 5–12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 5–12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 5–12 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 5–12 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 10–24 | Jan 9–16 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) Jan 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 24–Nov 7 | Dec 19–Jan 2 (transplant) Dec 12–Jan 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 5–19 (transplant) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (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: Monterey Peninsul AP, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00023259), elevation 165 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%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey WFO, CA | 3 mi | Jan 3 | Dec 28 |
| Monterey, CA | 6 mi | Jan 1 | Dec 30 |
| Carmel Valley, CA | 7 mi | Feb 20 | Dec 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 50 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 93940
When is the last frost in 93940?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93940 is January 2. For a more cautious planting date, use January 20, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93940?
The average first fall freeze is December 23. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 1.
What hardiness zone is 93940?
ZIP 93940 is in USDA zone 10a (30 to 35°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 93940 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
93955 Seaside 93943 Monterey 93921 Carmel-by-the-Sea 93944 Monterey 93950 Pacific Grove 93953 Del Monte Forest 93933 Marina 93962 Spreckels
Other ZIP codes in Monterey County
93426 93450 93451 93901 93905 93906 93907 93908 93920 93921 93923 93924 93925 93926 93927 93928 93930 93932 93933 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.