Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95065 (Live Oak, 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, Santa Cruz, CA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJan 2950% 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)323 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°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
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 95065 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 Mar 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
- 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 6–20
- Radish: fall sowing Nov 1–15
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
- Garlic: fall sowing Nov 1–29
- Shallot: fall sowing Nov 1–29
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 6–20
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 25 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 29 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 28 |
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 23 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 13 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 22 (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 14 | Nov 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 29 | Dec 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 3 | Dec 27 |
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 95065
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 29) 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 4–18 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 4–18 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 4–18 | Jan 8–29 (transplant) Jan 1–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 8 (transplant) Oct 4–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 18–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 4–18 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) Jan 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 4–18 | Jan 1–29 (transplant) Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (transplant) Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 6–20 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 4–18 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) Jan 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 15 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 15–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 25–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Nov 1–15 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 1–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 4–Jan 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 6–20 | Dec 18–Jan 1 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 18–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 4–18 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 6–20 | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 1–29 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 18–Jan 1 (transplant) | Nov 1–29 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 19–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 1–8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 1–8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 1–8 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 1–8 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 1–8 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 6–20 | Feb 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 5–19 (transplant) Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 20–Dec 4 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 18–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 1–15 (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: Santa Cruz, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00047916), elevation 70 ft, 3.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Lomond #4, CA | 6 mi | Mar 25 | Nov 11 |
| Watsonville Muni AP, CA | 13 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 9 |
| Watsonville Wtr Wks, CA | 14 mi | Jan 28 | Dec 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 59 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95065
When is the last frost in 95065?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95065 is January 29. For a more cautious planting date, use February 28, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95065?
The average first fall freeze is December 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 23.
What hardiness zone is 95065?
ZIP 95065 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 95065 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
95066 Scotts Valley 95073 Soquel 95062 Santa Cruz 95010 Capitola 95041 Mount Hermon 95064 Santa Cruz 95018 Felton 95003 Day Valley
Other ZIP codes in Santa Cruz County
95003 95005 95006 95007 95010 95017 95018 95019 95033 95041 95060 95062 95064 95066 95073 95076 All Santa Cruz 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.