Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96068 (Nubieber, 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, Adin Rs, CA (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 2950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)125 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 96068 (Nubieber)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 96068, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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
57°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 53°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ash Valley (27 mi), Eagle Lake (42 mi).
4-inch depth
56°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 54°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Ash Valley (27 mi), Eagle Lake (42 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 96068 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 56°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). 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 7 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 16 |
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 10 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 29 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 15 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 13 | Sep 15 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 28 | Sep 29 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 2 | Oct 13 |
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 96068
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 28) and first fall frost (Sep 29). 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 2–16 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 2–16 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 2–16 | May 7–28 (transplant) Apr 30–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (transplant) Jul 21–Aug 18 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 16–May 7 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–25 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 28 (transplant) Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–Aug 4 (transplant) Jun 23–Jul 21 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 23–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 9–30 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 2–16 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 30–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 16–30 | May 14–Jun 4 (transplant) May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 7–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 23–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Aug 18–Sep 1 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Jul 7–21 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 5–19 | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jul 21–Aug 4 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 5–19 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 18–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jun 9–23 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 18–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 30–May 7 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 16–30 | Jun 11–25 (transplant) Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 5–19 | Jun 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 16–30 | Jun 4–18 (transplant) Jun 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 4–18 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 28–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jul 21–Aug 18 (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: Adin Rs, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00040029), elevation 4,195 ft, 14.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hat Creek, CA | 21 mi | May 29 | Sep 19 |
| Canby 3 SW, CA | 27 mi | Jun 1 | Sep 16 |
| Burney, CA | 28 mi | Jun 3 | Sep 14 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 6 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96068
When is the last frost in 96068?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96068 is May 28. For a more cautious planting date, use June 16, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96068?
The average first fall freeze is September 29. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 10.
What hardiness zone is 96068?
ZIP 96068 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 96068 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
96056 Little Valley 96009 Bieber 96054 Lookout 96028 Fall River Mills 96006 Adin 96016 Cassel 96040 Hat Creek 96013 Burney
Other ZIP codes in Lassen County
96006 96009 96056 96109 96113 96114 96117 96119 96121 96123 96128 96130 96132 96136 96137 All Lassen County frost dates · California frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.