Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95039 (Moss Landing, 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, Watsonville Wtr Wks, CA (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJan 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)324 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 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
69°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 Merced 23 WSW (57 mi).
4-inch depth
68°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 68°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Merced 23 WSW (57 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 95039 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 68°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 15 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 4–Nov 1
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 18–Nov 8
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 8
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 20–Oct 18
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 15
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 4–18
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 18–Nov 1
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 4–Nov 1
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Radish: fall sowing Nov 1–15
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Garlic: fall sowing Nov 1–29
- Shallot: fall sowing Nov 1–29
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 13: 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) | Dec 23 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 3 |
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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 13 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 15 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 15 | Nov 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 28 | Dec 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 2 | Dec 26 |
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 95039
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 28) and first fall frost (Dec 13). 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 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 3–17 | Jan 7–28 (transplant) Dec 31–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 8 (transplant) Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 17–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 28 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 17–31 | Jan 14–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 24–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 5–19 | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 17–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | Nov 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 5–19 | Feb 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 17–31 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Oct 4–Nov 1 (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: Watsonville Wtr Wks, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00049473), elevation 95 ft, 7.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Watsonville Muni AP, CA | 8 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 9 |
| Salinas #2, CA | 13 mi | Feb 4 | Dec 6 |
| Salinas Municipal AP, CA | 14 mi | Jan 29 | Dec 10 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 7 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95039
When is the last frost in 95039?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95039 is January 28. For a more cautious planting date, use March 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95039?
The average first fall freeze is December 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 25.
What hardiness zone is 95039?
ZIP 95039 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 95039 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
95012 Elkhorn 93907 Prunedale 95019 Watsonville 95004 Prunedale 95076 Interlaken 93906 Salinas 93933 Marina 93905 Salinas
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 93950 93953 All Monterey County frost dates · California frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- 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.