Frost dates for ZIP 96140 (Carnelian Bay, 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, Tahoe City, CA (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 950% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)108 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°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
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 96140 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 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) | May 26 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 9 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 25 |
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 9 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 10 |
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 9 | Sep 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 24 | Oct 12 |
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 96140
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 9) and first fall frost (Sep 25). 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 14–28 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 14–28 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 14–28 | May 19–Jun 9 (transplant) May 12–Jun 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (transplant) Jul 17–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 21 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 14–28 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) Jun 19–Jul 17 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 14–28 | May 12–Jun 9 (transplant) May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–31 (transplant) Jun 19–Jul 17 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) | Jun 19–Jul 17 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 14–28 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 12–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 28–May 12 | May 26–Jun 16 (transplant) May 26–Jun 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 19–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–17 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | May 5–Jun 16 (sow outdoors) | Aug 14–28 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 12–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 19–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 3–17 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 17–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 17–31 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 30–Jul 21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 12–19 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 12–19 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 12–19 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 12–19 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 12–19 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 28–May 12 | Jun 23–Jul 7 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 17–31 | Jun 16–23 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 28–May 12 | Jun 16–30 (transplant) Jun 16–30 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 26–Jun 23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 26–Jun 9 (transplant) May 19–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Jul 31–Aug 14 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jul 17–Aug 14 (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: Tahoe City, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00048758), elevation 6,230 ft, 5.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Incline Village, NV | 8 mi | May 17 | Oct 13 |
| Tahoma, CA | 12 mi | Jun 4 | Oct 3 |
| Glenbrook, NV | 14 mi | Jun 5 | Oct 9 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 23 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96140
When is the last frost in 96140?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96140 is June 9. For a more cautious planting date, use June 25, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96140?
The average first fall freeze is September 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 9.
What hardiness zone is 96140?
ZIP 96140 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 96140 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
95604 Carnelian Bay 96148 Tahoe Vista 96143 Kings Beach 96145 Sunnyside-Tahoe City 89402 Crystal Bay 96146 89451 Incline Village 89450 Incline Village
Other ZIP codes in Placer County
95602 95603 95604 95631 95648 95650 95658 95661 95663 95677 95678 95681 95701 95703 95713 95714 95715 95717 95722 95728 95736 95746 95747 95765 All Placer County frost dates · California frost dates
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