Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96117 (Litchfield, 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, Susanville 2SW, CA (24 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)143 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
52°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Eagle Lake (26 mi), Buckhorn (28 mi), Ash Valley (43 mi).
4-inch depth
52°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 52°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Eagle Lake (26 mi), Buckhorn (28 mi), Ash Valley (43 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 96117 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 52°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically March to April).
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) | Apr 29 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 16 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 5 |
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 25 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 8 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 22 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 4 | Sep 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 16 | Oct 8 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 26 | Oct 21 |
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 96117
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Oct 8). 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 21–Apr 4 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 7–21 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 7–21 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 21–Apr 4 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 25–May 16 (transplant) Apr 18–May 30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (transplant) Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 16 (transplant) Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 7–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 7–21 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 21–Apr 4 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 18–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 4–18 | May 2–23 (transplant) May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 18–May 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 25–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 11–May 23 (sow outdoors) | Aug 27–Sep 10 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 18–May 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 21–Apr 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 4–May 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 21–Mar 7 | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 18–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 18–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 18–25 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 18–25 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 18–25 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 4–18 | May 30–Jun 13 (transplant) May 30–Jun 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 21–Mar 7 | May 23–30 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 4–18 | May 23–Jun 6 (transplant) May 23–Jun 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 7–21 | May 2–16 (transplant) Apr 25–May 16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Aug 13–27 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 18–May 2 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (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: Susanville 2SW, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00048702), elevation 4,212 ft, 23.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smoke Creek Espil, NV | 26 mi | May 10 | Oct 1 |
| Doyle 4 SSE, CA | 40 mi | May 21 | Oct 1 |
| Gerlach, NV | 47 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96117
When is the last frost in 96117?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96117 is May 16. For a more cautious planting date, use June 5, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96117?
The average first fall freeze is October 8. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 25.
What hardiness zone is 96117?
ZIP 96117 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 96117 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
96136 96128 96130 Johnstonville 96114 Janesville 96123 96113 Patton Village 96121 Milford 96132
Other ZIP codes in Lassen County
96006 96009 96056 96068 96109 96113 96114 96119 96121 96123 96128 96130 96132 96136 96137 All Lassen County frost dates · California frost dates
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