Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95503 (Pine Hills, 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, Eureka WFO Woodley Island, CA (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2250% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)293 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°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
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 95503 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 February to March; fall September to October.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: California coastal and valleys. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Apr 9 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 26
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 2
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 2
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 7: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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) | Dec 31 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 22 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 23 |
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) | Nov 15 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 11 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 1 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 22 | Dec 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 3 | Dec 25 |
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 95503
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 22) and first fall frost (Dec 7). 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 | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 14–28 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 14–28 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Feb 1–22 (transplant) Jan 25–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 2 (transplant) Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 11–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Jan 25–Feb 22 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 14–28 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 14–28 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 28–Jan 11 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 11–25 | Feb 8–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 25–Feb 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 1–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 18–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 25–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 28–Jan 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 11–25 (transplant) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Aug 17–31 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 15–Apr 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 25–Feb 1 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 11–25 | Mar 8–22 (transplant) Mar 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 30–Dec 14 | Mar 1–8 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 11–25 | Mar 1–15 (transplant) Mar 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 8–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 14–28 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 1–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 25–Feb 8 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (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: Eureka WFO Woodley Island, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00024213), elevation 20 ft, 5.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arcata Eureka AP, CA | 17 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 30 |
| Scotia, CA | 18 mi | Feb 1 | Dec 19 |
| Grizzly Creek Sp, CA | 20 mi | Mar 4 | Nov 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 38 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95503
When is the last frost in 95503?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95503 is February 22. For a more cautious planting date, use March 23, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95503?
The average first fall freeze is December 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 15.
What hardiness zone is 95503?
ZIP 95503 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 95503 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
95501 Eureka 95537 Fields Landing 95564 Samoa 95524 Indianola 95551 Loleta 95521 Arcata 95549 95547 Hydesville
Other ZIP codes in Humboldt County
95501 95511 95514 95519 95521 95524 95525 95526 95528 95536 95537 95540 95542 95545 95546 95547 95549 95550 95551 95553 95554 95555 95556 95558 All Humboldt 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.