Frost dates for ZIP 96057 (McCloud, 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, Mccloud, CA (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 3050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)123 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7b5 to 10°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 17, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
73°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 77°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of French Gulch (47 mi), Redding 12 WNW (56 mi).
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 78°F, as of Oct 17, 10:00 PM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of French Gulch (47 mi), Redding 12 WNW (56 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 96057 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 74°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: Pacific Northwest (west of the Cascades). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | May 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 15 |
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) | Sep 12 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 30 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 11 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 13 | Sep 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 28 | Sep 30 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 3 | Oct 14 |
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 96057
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 28) and first fall frost (Sep 30). 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 | Apr 2–16 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 2–16 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 2–16 | May 7–28 (transplant) Apr 30–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–26 (transplant) Jul 22–Aug 19 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–26 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 22 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 28 (transplant) Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–Aug 5 (transplant) Jun 24–Jul 22 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 22 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 22 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 24–Jul 22 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 10–Jul 1 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 16–30 | May 14–Jun 4 (transplant) May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–22 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 23–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 8–22 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 5–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 22–Aug 5 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 10–24 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 18–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 16–30 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 5–19 | Jun 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 16–30 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 5–19 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jul 22–Aug 19 (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: Mccloud, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00045449), elevation 3,233 ft, 11.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dunsmuir Trtmt Pl, CA | 20 mi | Apr 23 | Oct 27 |
| Mt Shasta, CA | 21 mi | May 15 | Oct 6 |
| Mt Shasta, CA | 22 mi | May 6 | Oct 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 36 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96057
When is the last frost in 96057?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96057 is May 28. For a more cautious planting date, use June 15, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96057?
The average first fall freeze is September 30. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 12.
What hardiness zone is 96057?
ZIP 96057 is in USDA zone 7b (5 to 10°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 96057 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
96011 Big Bend 96067 Mount Shasta 96025 Dunsmuir 96017 Castella 96013 Burney 96065 Montgomery Creek 96094 Weed 96028 Fall River Mills
Other ZIP codes in Siskiyou County
95568 96014 96023 96025 96027 96031 96032 96034 96037 96038 96039 96044 96050 96058 96064 96067 96085 96086 96094 96097 All Siskiyou County frost dates · California frost dates
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