Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96105 (Chilcoot-Vinton, 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, Stead, NV (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 1250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)150 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 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 96105 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) | Apr 22 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 8 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 2 |
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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 12 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 28 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 1 | Oct 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 8 | Oct 12 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 23 | Oct 22 |
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 96105
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 8) and first fall frost (Oct 12). 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 13–27 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 27–Mar 13 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 13–27 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 13–27 | Apr 17–May 8 (transplant) Apr 10–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 27–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) Jul 6–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–May 8 (transplant) Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 17 (transplant) Jul 6–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) | Jul 6–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 13 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 27–Apr 10 | Apr 24–May 15 (transplant) Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 3–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 13–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 13–27 | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 27–Apr 24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 3–17 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 13–27 | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 27–Apr 10 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Jun 22–Jul 6 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 29–Jun 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 10–17 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 10–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 10–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 13–27 | May 15–22 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 27–Apr 10 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 27–Mar 13 | Apr 24–May 8 (transplant) Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 10–24 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (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: Stead, NV (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00267820), elevation 5,101 ft, 14.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verdi 2W, CA | 13 mi | May 9 | Oct 17 |
| Portola, CA | 19 mi | Jun 11 | Sep 10 |
| Doyle 4 SSE, CA | 20 mi | May 21 | Oct 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 34 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96105
When is the last frost in 96105?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96105 is May 8. For a more cautious planting date, use June 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96105?
The average first fall freeze is October 12. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 28.
What hardiness zone is 96105?
ZIP 96105 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 96105 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
96118 Sierra Brooks 96135 89508 Reno 89439 Reno 96129 89523 Reno 96126 Sierraville 89506 Reno
Other ZIP codes in Plumas County
95915 95923 95934 95947 95956 95971 95981 95983 95984 96020 96103 96106 96122 96129 96135 All Plumas 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.