Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95949 (Alta Sierra, 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, Grass Valley #2, CA (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)215 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 95949 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 May 26 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 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) | Mar 17 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 10 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 30 |
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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 13 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 1 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 28 | Oct 31 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 10 | Nov 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 9 | Dec 1 |
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 95949
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 10) and first fall frost (Nov 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 | Feb 13–27 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Feb 13–27 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Feb 13–27 | Mar 20–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (transplant) Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 27–Mar 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 9 (sowing) |
| Kale | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Collards | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Feb 13–27 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Mar 27–Apr 17 (transplant) Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 6–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Feb 13–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Jan 16–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 27–Mar 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Leek | Jan 16–30 | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 13–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 13–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Mar 13–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 13–20 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 13–20 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 24–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Jan 16–30 | Apr 17–24 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 30–Feb 13 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (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: Grass Valley #2, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00043573), elevation 2,400 ft, 7.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colfax, CA | 10 mi | Apr 3 | Nov 24 |
| Nevada City, CA | 12 mi | Apr 14 | Nov 20 |
| Auburn, CA | 14 mi | Feb 25 | Dec 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 51 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95949
When is the last frost in 95949?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95949 is April 10. For a more cautious planting date, use April 30, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95949?
The average first fall freeze is November 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 26.
What hardiness zone is 95949?
ZIP 95949 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 95949 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
95602 Lake of the Pines 95722 Meadow Vista 95975 Rough and Ready 95946 Lake Wildwood 95736 95977 Smartsville 95945 Grass Valley 95713 Colfax
Other ZIP codes in Nevada County
95945 95946 95959 95975 95986 96111 96161 All Nevada 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.