Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95318 (El Portal, 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, Yosemite Village 12 W, CA (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)171 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 95318 (El Portal)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 95318, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.
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
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 57°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Yosemite Village 12 W, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 56°, Fri 58°, Sat 58°.
4-inch depth
63°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 63°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Yosemite Village 12 W, 7 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 61°, Fri 63°, Sat 63°.
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 95318 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 63°F at 4 inches. 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 27 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 1: 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) | Apr 18 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 12 |
| 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 5 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 23 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 24 | Oct 18 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 12 | Nov 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 26 | Nov 13 |
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 95318
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 12) and first fall frost (Nov 1). 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 | Mar 17–31 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 3–17 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 3–17 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 17–31 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 17–31 | Apr 21–May 12 (transplant) Apr 14–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–27 (transplant) Aug 23–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–May 12 (transplant) Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) Jul 26–Aug 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 3–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 3–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jul 26–Aug 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 12–Aug 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 19 (transplant) Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 21–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 7–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 20–Oct 4 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 23–Sep 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Sep 20–Oct 18 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 12–26 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 14–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 14–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 14–21 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 14–21 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 14–21 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 17–Mar 3 | May 19–26 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) May 19–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 21–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 23–Sep 20 (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: Yosemite Village 12 W, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00053150), elevation 6,620 ft, 6.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yosemite Park Hq, CA | 13 mi | Apr 21 | Oct 27 |
| So Entrance Yosemite Np, CA | 14 mi | May 24 | Oct 10 |
| Hetch Hetchy, CA | 20 mi | Apr 16 | Nov 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 39 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95318
When is the last frost in 95318?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95318 is May 12. 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 95318?
The average first fall freeze is November 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 5.
What hardiness zone is 95318?
ZIP 95318 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 95318 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
95345 Midpines 95338 Mariposa 93623 Fish Camp 95311 Greeley Hill 95321 Pine Mountain Lake 93601 Ahwahnee 93644 Oakhurst 95389 Yosemite Valley
Other ZIP codes in Mariposa County
93623 95306 95311 95325 95338 95345 95389 All Mariposa County frost dates · California frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.