Fall in zone 6bPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 97635 (Modoc County, 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, Ft Bidwell, CA (8 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 2650% 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)127 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone6b-5 to 0°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 97635, 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
50°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 45°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Denio 52 WSW (34 mi).
4-inch depth
50°F Below 50°F
24-hour average · latest 48°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Denio 52 WSW (34 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 97635 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 50°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) | May 4 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 26 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Jun 13 |
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 12 |
| 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 11 | Sep 15 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 26 | Oct 1 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | May 3 | Oct 14 |
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 97635
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 26) 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 31–Apr 14 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Mar 17–31 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Mar 17–31 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 31–Apr 14 | May 5–26 (transplant) Apr 28–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (transplant) Jul 23–Aug 20 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Apr 14–May 5 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–27 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 26 (transplant) Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–Aug 6 (transplant) Jun 25–Jul 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Mar 17–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Mar 17–31 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) | Jun 25–Jul 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 11–Jul 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 31–Apr 14 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 28–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Apr 14–28 | May 12–Jun 2 (transplant) May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 28–May 26 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | May 5–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Apr 21–Jun 2 (sow outdoors) | Aug 20–Sep 3 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 28–May 19 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | May 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 31–Apr 28 (sow outdoors) | Jul 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Mar 3–17 | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Apr 14–May 12 (sow outdoors) | Jul 23–Aug 6 (sowing) |
| Leek | Mar 3–17 | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Apr 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 20–Sep 17 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | Jun 11–25 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jun 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jun 16–Jul 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 28–May 5 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Apr 14–28 | Jun 9–23 (transplant) Jun 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Mar 3–17 | Jun 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Apr 14–28 | Jun 2–16 (transplant) Jun 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | May 12–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Mar 17–31 | May 12–26 (transplant) May 5–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | Aug 6–20 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 26–Jun 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 28–May 12 (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: Ft Bidwell, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00043157), elevation 4,739 ft, 8.1 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeview 2 NNW, OR | 22 mi | Jun 4 | Sep 17 |
| Bly 4 SE, OR | 25 mi | Jun 8 | Sep 17 |
| Cedarville, CA | 28 mi | May 15 | Oct 1 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 24 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 97635
When is the last frost in 97635?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 97635 is May 26. For a more cautious planting date, use June 13, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 97635?
The average first fall freeze is October 1. In 1 year in 10 it comes by September 12.
What hardiness zone is 97635?
ZIP 97635 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 97635 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 96108 96115 Lake City 97630 Lakeview 97620 96104 Cedarville 96101 California Pines 97637 Plush
Other ZIP codes in Modoc County
96015 96054 96101 96104 96108 96110 96112 96115 96116 96134 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.
- 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.