Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 93950 (Pacific Grove, 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, CA (2 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 20% of years (about 0 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 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 3050% 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 18, 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 93950 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 16 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 23–Oct 21
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 7–Nov 4
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 23–Oct 21
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 7–Nov 4
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 9–23
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 9–23
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 9–23
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 9–23
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Tomato: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6
- Tomatillo: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 18
- Lettuce: fall transplant Nov 4–25
- Lettuce: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Spinach: fall sowing Nov 4–25
- Kale: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Collards: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 23–Nov 6
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 11 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jan 21 |
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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 30 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 18 (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 19 | Dec 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 1 | Dec 30 |
| 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 93950
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 1) and first fall frost (Dec 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 | Nov 6–20 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 23–Nov 6 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 23–Nov 6 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 6–20 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 6–20 | Dec 11–Jan 1 (transplant) Dec 4–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–25 (transplant) Oct 21–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 20–Dec 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 6–20 | Dec 4–18 (transplant) Dec 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (transplant) Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 6–20 | Dec 4–Jan 1 (transplant) Dec 4–Jan 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (transplant) Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 23–Nov 6 | Dec 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 23–Nov 6 | Dec 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 23–Nov 6 | Dec 18–Jan 1 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 9–23 | Dec 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 6–20 | Dec 4–18 (transplant) Dec 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 4–Jan 1 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–Dec 2 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Dec 18–Jan 8 (transplant) Dec 18–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 4–Jan 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 11–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Nov 27–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Nov 18–Dec 2 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 11–Jan 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 6–Dec 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 9–23 | Nov 20–Dec 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 20–Dec 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 9–23 | Dec 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 18–Dec 16 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 20–Dec 4 (transplant) | Nov 18–Dec 16 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 22–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 4–11 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 4–11 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 4–11 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 4–11 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 4–11 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 9–23 | Jan 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 18–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 23–Nov 6 | Dec 18–Jan 1 (transplant) Dec 11–Jan 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 4–18 (transplant) | Oct 21–Nov 18 (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, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00045795), elevation 260 ft, 2.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monterey WFO, CA | 4 mi | Jan 3 | Dec 28 |
| Monterey Peninsul AP, CA | 5 mi | Jan 2 | Dec 23 |
| Salinas #2, CA | 15 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 6 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 34 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 93950
When is the last frost in 93950?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 93950 is January 1. For a more cautious planting date, use January 21, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 93950?
The average first fall freeze is December 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 7.
What hardiness zone is 93950?
ZIP 93950 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 93950 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 93953 Del Monte Forest 93943 Monterey 93921 Carmel-by-the-Sea 93955 Seaside 93940 Monterey 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 93943 93944 93953 93954 All Monterey County frost dates · California frost dates
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- 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.