Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96115 (Lake City, 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, Cedarville, CA (12 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 1550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)137 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°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
51°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 47°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Denio 52 WSW (25 mi), Ash Valley (54 mi), Buckhorn (56 mi).
4-inch depth
51°F 50–55°F
24-hour average · latest 50°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Denio 52 WSW (25 mi), Ash Valley (54 mi), Buckhorn (56 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 96115 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 51°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent window is mostly past. Next: spring, when soil reaches 50°F (typically 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 28 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 15 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 6 |
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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 1 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Oct 16 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jun 3 | Sep 20 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 15 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 27 | 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 96115
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 15) and first fall frost (Oct 1). 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 20–Apr 3 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 6–20 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 6–20 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 24–May 15 (transplant) Apr 17–May 29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 17–May 15 (transplant) Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 6–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 6–20 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 17–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 3–17 | May 1–22 (transplant) May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 24–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 10–May 22 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 17–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 5–19 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 17–24 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 17–24 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 17–24 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 17–24 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 17–24 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 3–17 | May 29–Jun 12 (transplant) May 29–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 20–Mar 6 | May 22–29 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 3–17 | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) May 22–Jun 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 1–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 6–20 | May 1–15 (transplant) Apr 24–May 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 23–Aug 20 (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: Cedarville, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00041614), elevation 4,688 ft, 12.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ft Bidwell, CA | 13 mi | May 26 | Oct 1 |
| Denio 52 WSW, NV | 25 mi | Jun 13 | Sep 20 |
| Alturas, CA | 28 mi | Jun 3 | Sep 13 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96115
When is the last frost in 96115?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96115 is May 15. For a more cautious planting date, use June 6, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96115?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 16.
What hardiness zone is 96115?
ZIP 96115 is in USDA zone 6b (-5 to 0°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 96115 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
96112 Fort Bidwell 96104 Cedarville 96108 97635 96101 California Pines 96110 Eagleville 96116 Likely 97620
Other ZIP codes in Modoc County
96015 96054 96101 96104 96108 96110 96112 96116 96134 97635 All Modoc County frost dates · California frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
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