Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95043 (San Benito 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, Pinnacles Nm, CA (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)189 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
75°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Vallecitos (16 mi), Monocline Ridge (24 mi), Merced 23 WSW (50 mi).
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 76°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Vallecitos (16 mi), Monocline Ridge (24 mi), Merced 23 WSW (50 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 95043 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 74°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 Jun 8 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 3: 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) | Mar 23 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 4 |
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) | Oct 7 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 3 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 22 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 28 | Oct 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 23 | Nov 3 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 12 | Nov 22 |
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 95043
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 23) and first fall frost (Nov 3). 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 | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Apr 2–23 (transplant) Mar 26–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–29 (transplant) Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 12–Apr 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–29 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 23 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (transplant) Jul 28–Aug 25 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 12–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 12–26 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 4 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 26–Mar 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 12–26 | Apr 9–30 (transplant) Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 26–Apr 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 19–Apr 30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 22–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 26–Apr 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 26–Mar 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 12–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Sep 22–Oct 20 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Jul 14–28 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 26–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 26–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 26–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 26–Apr 2 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 26–Apr 2 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 12–26 | May 7–21 (transplant) May 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 29–Feb 12 | Apr 30–May 7 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 12–26 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 9–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 12–26 | Apr 9–23 (transplant) Apr 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 23–May 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 26–Apr 9 (transplant) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (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: Pinnacles Nm, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00046926), elevation 1,307 ft, 11.4 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 | 23 mi | Feb 23 | Nov 22 |
| Paicines 4 W, CA | 24 mi | Apr 14 | Nov 2 |
| Priest Valley, CA | 28 mi | May 8 | Oct 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 78 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95043
When is the last frost in 95043?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95043 is April 23. For a more cautious planting date, use June 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95043?
The average first fall freeze is November 3. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 7.
What hardiness zone is 95043?
ZIP 95043 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 95043 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
93960 Soledad 95075 Tres Pinos 93930 King City 93926 Gonzales 93925 Chualar 93954 San Lucas 93622 Firebaugh 93927 Greenfield
Other ZIP codes in San Benito County
95023 95045 95075 All San Benito 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.