Frost dates for ZIP 93943 (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 WFO, CA (1 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 47% of years (about 1 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 350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)year-round in a typical yearmedian, 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
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
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 93943 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring February to March; fall September to October.
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 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
- Kale: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 5–Nov 2
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 5–Nov 2
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 11–25
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 11–25
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 11–25
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 11–25
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 16
- Lettuce: fall transplant Nov 2–23
- Spinach: fall sowing Nov 2–23
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Oct 25–Nov 8
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 2
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Nov 2–16
- Arugula: fall sowing Nov 2–30
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Nov 2–16
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 12 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jan 24 |
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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 17 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 1 | Dec 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 3 | Dec 28 |
| 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 93943
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 3) and first fall frost (Dec 28). 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 8–22 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 8–22 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 8–22 | Dec 13–Jan 3 (transplant) Dec 6–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–23 (transplant) Oct 19–Nov 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 22–Dec 13 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 8–22 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) Dec 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (transplant) Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 8–22 | Dec 6–Jan 3 (transplant) Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (transplant) Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 11–25 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 8–22 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) Dec 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Dec 20–Jan 10 (transplant) Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 6–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 13–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Nov 29–Jan 10 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 13–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 8–Dec 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 11–25 | Nov 22–Dec 6 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 22–Dec 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 11–25 | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 16–Dec 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 22–Dec 6 (transplant) | Nov 16–Dec 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Sep 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 24–Feb 7 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 24–Feb 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 6–13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 6–13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 6–13 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 6–13 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 6–13 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 17–31 (transplant) Jan 17–31 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 11–25 | Jan 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 22–Dec 6 | Jan 10–24 (transplant) Jan 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 20–Jan 17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 25–Nov 8 | Dec 20–Jan 3 (transplant) Dec 13–Jan 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 6–20 (transplant) | Oct 19–Nov 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: Monterey WFO, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00045802), elevation 122 ft, 1.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey Peninsul AP, CA | 2 mi | Jan 2 | Dec 23 |
| Monterey, CA | 2 mi | Jan 1 | Dec 30 |
| Carmel Valley, CA | 12 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 93943
When is the last frost in 93943?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93943 is January 3. For a more cautious planting date, use January 24, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93943?
The average first fall freeze is December 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 5.
What hardiness zone is 93943?
ZIP 93943 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 93943 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
93944 Monterey 93950 Pacific Grove 93953 Del Monte Forest 93921 Carmel-by-the-Sea 93940 Monterey 93955 Seaside 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 93940 93944 93950 93953 93954 All Monterey County frost dates · California frost dates
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