Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 96124 (Sattley, 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, Portola, CA (11 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJun 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostSep 1050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)91 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
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 96124 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) | May 25 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jun 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jul 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) | Aug 22 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Sep 10 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Sep 28 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | n/a | n/a |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jun 11 | Sep 10 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 17 | Oct 1 |
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 96124
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jun 11) and first fall frost (Sep 10). 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 16–30 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Apr 2–16 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Apr 2–16 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Apr 16–30 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Apr 16–30 | May 21–Jun 11 (transplant) May 14–Jun 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (transplant) Jul 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 30–May 21 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Apr 16–30 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) Jun 4–Jul 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Apr 16–30 | May 14–Jun 11 (transplant) May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jun 18–Jul 16 (transplant) |
| Broccoli | Apr 2–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 4–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Apr 2–16 | May 14–28 (transplant) | Jun 4–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Apr 2–16 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) | – |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Kohlrabi | Apr 16–30 | May 14–28 (transplant) May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | May 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 30–May 14 | May 28–Jun 18 (transplant) May 28–Jun 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | May 14–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 21–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Radish | – | May 7–Jun 18 (sow outdoors) | Jul 30–Aug 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | May 14–Jun 4 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 21–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Apr 16–May 14 (sow outdoors) | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 30–May 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 19–Apr 2 | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 30–May 14 (transplant) | Jul 30–Aug 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet potato | – | Jul 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 25–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jul 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | May 14–21 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | May 14–21 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | May 14–21 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | May 14–21 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | May 14–21 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 30–May 14 | Jun 25–Jul 9 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 19–Apr 2 | Jun 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 30–May 14 | Jun 18–Jul 2 (transplant) Jun 18–Jul 2 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 28–Jun 25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Apr 2–16 | May 28–Jun 11 (transplant) May 21–Jun 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Jul 16–30 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jun 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | May 14–28 (transplant) | Jul 2–30 (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: Portola, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00047085), elevation 4,850 ft, 11.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bowman Dam, CA | 16 mi | May 12 | Oct 29 |
| Downieville, CA | 20 mi | Apr 28 | Oct 25 |
| Lake Spaulding, CA | 24 mi | May 22 | Oct 16 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 45 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 96124
When is the last frost in 96124?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 96124 is June 11. For a more cautious planting date, use July 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 96124?
The average first fall freeze is September 10. In 1 year in 10 it comes by August 22.
What hardiness zone is 96124?
ZIP 96124 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 96124 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
96126 Sierraville 96125 Sierra City 96106 Gold Mountain 96118 Sierra Brooks 96122 Beckwourth 96103 Johnsville 96129 95936 Downieville
Other ZIP codes in Sierra County
95910 95936 95944 95960 96118 96125 96126 All Sierra County frost dates · California frost dates
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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.