Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 95944 (Goodyears Bar, 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, Downieville, CA (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostApr 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)178 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 95944, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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 95944 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 Jun 13 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
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 25: 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) | Apr 13 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Apr 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 22 |
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) | Oct 9 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 25 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 8 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 24 | Oct 8 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Apr 28 | Oct 25 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 6 | Nov 10 |
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 95944
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 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 | Mar 3–17 | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 17–Mar 3 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 17–Mar 3 | May 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 3–17 | May 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 3–17 | Apr 7–28 (transplant) Mar 31–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (transplant) Aug 16–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 17–Apr 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 20 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 28 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–30 (transplant) Jul 19–Aug 16 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 19–Aug 16 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 5–26 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 17–31 | Apr 14–May 5 (transplant) Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 7–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 24–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Mar 31–Apr 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Aug 2–16 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 3–17 | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 17–Apr 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 16–30 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 3–17 | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 17–31 (transplant) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Jul 5–19 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 19–Jun 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 19–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Mar 31–Apr 7 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 3–17 | May 5–12 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 17–31 | May 5–19 (transplant) May 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 17–Mar 3 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) Apr 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 30–Sep 13 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Mar 31–Apr 14 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 13 (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: Downieville, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00042500), elevation 2,915 ft, 2.2 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowman Dam, CA | 12 mi | May 12 | Oct 29 |
| Strawberry Valley, CA | 14 mi | May 4 | Oct 30 |
| Lake Spaulding, CA | 19 mi | May 22 | Oct 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 25 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 95944
When is the last frost in 95944?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 95944 is April 28. For a more cautious planting date, use May 22, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 95944?
The average first fall freeze is October 25. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 9.
What hardiness zone is 95944?
ZIP 95944 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 95944 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
95936 Downieville 95910 Alleghany 95960 Pike 95981 Little Grass Valley 95922 Camptonville 95959 Nevada City 95986 Washington 96125 Sierra City
Other ZIP codes in Sierra County
95910 95936 95960 96118 96124 96125 96126 All Sierra 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.