Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96101 (California Pines, 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, Alturas, CA (3 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)97 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°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
56°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ash Valley (29 mi), Buckhorn (49 mi), Denio 52 WSW (53 mi).
4-inch depth
55°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ash Valley (29 mi), Buckhorn (49 mi), Denio 52 WSW (53 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 96101 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 55°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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 3 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 26 |
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) | Aug 27 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 13 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Sep 28 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 3 | Sep 13 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 14 | Sep 27 |
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 96101
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 3) and first fall frost (Sep 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 | Apr 8–22 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 25–Apr 8 | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 8–22 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 8–22 | May 13–Jun 3 (transplant) May 6–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (transplant) Jul 5–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 22–May 13 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 9 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 8–22 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Jun 21–Jul 19 (transplant) Jun 7–Jul 5 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 8–22 | May 6–Jun 3 (transplant) May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jun 21–Jul 19 (transplant) Jun 7–Jul 5 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 7–Jul 5 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 6–20 (transplant) | Jun 7–Jul 5 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) | Jun 7–Jul 5 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) | May 24–Jun 14 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 8–22 | May 6–20 (transplant) May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 22–May 6 | May 20–Jun 10 (transplant) May 20–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–19 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 6–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–19 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 13–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 29–Jun 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 6–27 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–19 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 13–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 8–May 6 (sow outdoors) | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 11–25 | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 22–May 20 (sow outdoors) | Jul 5–19 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 11–25 | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 22–May 6 (transplant) | Aug 2–30 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 6–20 (transplant) | May 24–Jun 7 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 24–Jul 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 17–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 24–Jul 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 6–13 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 6–13 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 6–13 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 6–13 | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) Jun 17–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 6–13 | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) Jun 17–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 22–May 6 | Jun 17–Jul 1 (transplant) Jun 17–Jul 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 11–25 | Jun 10–17 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 22–May 6 | Jun 10–24 (transplant) Jun 10–24 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 20–Jun 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 25–Apr 8 | May 20–Jun 3 (transplant) May 13–Jun 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 19–Aug 2 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 3–17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 6–20 (transplant) | Jul 5–Aug 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: Alturas, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00040161), elevation 4,378 ft, 2.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alturas Muni AP, CA | 4 mi | Jun 3 | Sep 12 |
| Jess Valley, CA | 17 mi | Jun 14 | Sep 18 |
| Cedarville, CA | 18 mi | May 15 | Oct 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 30 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96101
When is the last frost in 96101?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96101 is June 3. For a more cautious planting date, use June 26, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96101?
The average first fall freeze is September 13. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 27.
What hardiness zone is 96101?
ZIP 96101 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 96101 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
96116 Likely 96015 Canby 96104 Cedarville 96108 96110 Eagleville 96115 Lake City 96006 Adin 96119 Madeline
Other ZIP codes in Modoc County
96015 96054 96104 96108 96110 96112 96115 96116 96134 97635 All Modoc County frost dates · California frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- 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.