Fall in zone 6aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96132 (Lassen 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, Jess Valley, CA (28 miles away).
Station is a bit far
The nearest station with freeze normals is over 40 km away, so dates here may be off by a week or more.
- Average last spring frostJun 1450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 1850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)94 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6a-10 to -5°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
60°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 56°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Ash Valley, 14 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 59°, Fri 60°, Sat 60°.
4-inch depth
58°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 55°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Measured at USDA NRCS SCAN station Ash Valley, 14 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 58°, Fri 58°, Sat 58°.
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 96132 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 58°F at 4 inches. 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 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 14 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jul 3 |
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 31 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 18 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 3 |
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 14 | Sep 18 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 30 | Oct 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 96132
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 14) and first fall frost (Sep 18). 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 19–May 3 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Apr 5–19 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Apr 5–19 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 19–May 3 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 19–May 3 | May 24–Jun 14 (transplant) May 17–Jun 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (transplant) Jul 10–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | May 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 24 (transplant) Jun 12–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–Jun 14 (transplant) May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 24 (transplant) |
| Broccoli | Apr 5–19 | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 12–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Apr 5–19 | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jun 12–Jul 10 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Apr 5–19 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) | – |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 19–May 3 | May 17–31 (transplant) May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 17–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 17–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | May 3–17 | May 31–Jun 21 (transplant) May 31–Jun 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 17–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 24–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | May 10–Jun 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 7–21 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 17–Jun 7 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 24–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 19–May 17 (sow outdoors) | Jun 26–Jul 10 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | May 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Jul 10–24 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 22–Apr 5 | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | May 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 7–Sep 4 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet potato | – | Jul 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jul 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 17–24 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 17–24 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 17–24 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 17–24 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 17–24 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | May 3–17 | Jun 28–Jul 12 (transplant) Jun 28–Jul 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 22–Apr 5 | Jun 21–28 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | May 3–17 | Jun 21–Jul 5 (transplant) Jun 21–Jul 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 31–Jun 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Apr 5–19 | May 31–Jun 14 (transplant) May 24–Jun 14 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 24–Aug 7 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 17–31 (transplant) | Jul 10–Aug 7 (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: Jess Valley, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00044374), elevation 5,400 ft, 27.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Adin Rs, CA | 30 mi | May 28 | Sep 29 |
| Susanville 2SW, CA | 34 mi | May 16 | Oct 8 |
| Alturas, CA | 41 mi | Jun 3 | Sep 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96132
When is the last frost in 96132?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96132 is June 14. For a more cautious planting date, use July 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96132?
The average first fall freeze is September 18. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 31.
What hardiness zone is 96132?
ZIP 96132 is in USDA zone 6a (-10 to -5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 96132 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
96119 Madeline 96123 96006 Adin 96116 Likely 96130 Johnstonville 96009 Bieber 96117 Litchfield 96110 Eagleville
Other ZIP codes in Lassen County
96006 96009 96056 96068 96109 96113 96114 96117 96119 96121 96123 96128 96130 96136 96137 All Lassen County frost dates · California frost dates
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- 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.