Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95306 (Catheys Valley, 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, Merced Muni AP, CA (22 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)273 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
65°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 64°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Yosemite Village 12 W (32 mi), Merced 23 WSW (43 mi), Monocline Ridge (61 mi).
4-inch depth
67°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 67°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Yosemite Village 12 W (32 mi), Merced 23 WSW (43 mi), Monocline Ridge (61 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 95306 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 67°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 Apr 13 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 transplant Sep 30–Oct 21
- Spinach: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 21
- Arugula: fall sowing Sep 30–Oct 28
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 25: 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) | Jan 20 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 1 |
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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 16 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 2 | Nov 11 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 26 | Nov 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 22 | Dec 10 |
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 95306
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 26) and first fall frost (Nov 25). 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 | Jan 1–15 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | Jul 29–Aug 26 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 1–15 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 1–15 | Feb 5–26 (transplant) Jan 29–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (transplant) Sep 16–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 26 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 4–18 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 1–15 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 15–29 | Feb 12–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 29–Feb 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 5–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 22–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 29–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 4–18 | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 4–18 | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 15–29 (transplant) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Aug 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 19–Apr 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 19–Apr 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 2–16 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 29–Feb 5 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 15–29 | Mar 12–26 (transplant) Mar 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 4–18 | Mar 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 15–29 | Mar 5–19 (transplant) Mar 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 12–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 18–Jan 1 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 29–Feb 12 (transplant) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (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: Merced Muni AP, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00023257), elevation 152 ft, 22.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merced, CA | 22 mi | Mar 3 | Nov 24 |
| Madera Muni AP, CA | 26 mi | Feb 12 | Nov 30 |
| So Entrance Yosemite Np, CA | 29 mi | May 24 | Oct 10 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 105 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95306
When is the last frost in 95306?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95306 is February 26. For a more cautious planting date, use April 1, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95306?
The average first fall freeze is November 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 9.
What hardiness zone is 95306?
ZIP 95306 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 95306 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
95333 Le Grand 95325 Hornitos 95365 Planada 95338 Mariposa 93653 95340 Merced 95345 Midpines 95369 Snelling
Other ZIP codes in Mariposa County
93623 95311 95318 95325 95338 95345 95389 All Mariposa 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.