Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95385 (Stanislaus 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, Tracy Carbona, CA (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)272 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
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 (33 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 (33 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 95385 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 Apr 12 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 Oct 1–22
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 1–22
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 1–29
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 15–Nov 12
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 26: 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 24 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 6 |
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 8 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 26 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 12 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 3 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 25 | Nov 26 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 18 | Dec 11 |
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 95385
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Nov 26). 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 31–Jan 14 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 17–31 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 17–31 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 4–25 (transplant) Jan 28–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–22 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–22 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 25 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–Oct 1 (transplant) Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 17–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 17–31 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 3–17 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 14–28 | Feb 11–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 4–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 21–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 3–17 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 17–Oct 1 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 3–17 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 6–20 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 18–Apr 1 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 18–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 3–17 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 28–Feb 4 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 3–17 | Mar 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 14–28 | Mar 4–18 (transplant) Mar 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (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: Tracy Carbona, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00048999), elevation 135 ft, 7.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: E (estimated from nearby stations).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modesto City Co AP, CA | 16 mi | Jan 31 | Dec 5 |
| Stockton Metro AP, CA | 19 mi | Feb 6 | Dec 1 |
| Tracy Pumping Plt, CA | 22 mi | Jan 19 | Dec 10 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 37 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95385
When is the last frost in 95385?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95385 is February 25. For a more cautious planting date, use April 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95385?
The average first fall freeze is November 26. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 8.
What hardiness zone is 95385?
ZIP 95385 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 95385 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
95387 Westley 95358 Modesto 95304 95337 Manteca 95368 Salida 95366 Ripon 95376 Tracy 95351 Modesto
Other ZIP codes in Stanislaus County
95230 95307 95313 95316 95319 95323 95326 95328 95350 95351 95354 95355 95356 95357 95358 95360 95361 95363 95367 95368 95380 95382 95386 95387 All Stanislaus County frost dates · California frost dates
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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.