Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Auburn, CA

Auburn, CA is in USDA zone 9b across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 25 and the first fall frost December 5.

Auburn on the zone map

Outlined: its 3 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostFeb 25
First frostDec 5
Growing season286 days

9b 3 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

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Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Auburn, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 7only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 5median — 10% chance by Nov 15
Growing season286 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 13 and returns around December 22.

From the NOAA station Auburn, CA, elevation 1,293 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Auburn

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 10 – Oct 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 21 – Dec 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Dec 5) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 95602 came on Jan 29 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Soil in Auburn, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95602 is Auburn — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Auburn-Sobrante-Rock outcrop complex, 2 to 30 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 95602; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Auburn, CA

Summer high93 °Faverage high, July
Winter low37 °Faverage low, December
Hot days63days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights20nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,541base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 55 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 25 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation40.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 38 °F 56°38° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 40 °F 59°40° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 42 °F 63°42° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 45 °F 68°45° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 58 °F 86°58° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 63 °F 93°63° JulAugust: average high 92 °F, low 63 °F 92°63° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 60 °F 87°60° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 52 °F 77°52° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 37 °F 56°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 7.03 in precipitation 7.0 JanFebruary: 6.83 in precipitation 6.8 FebMarch: 5.85 in precipitation 5.8 MarApril: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 AprMay: 2.12 in precipitation 2.1 MayJune: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 0.02 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.08 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 SepOctober: 2.19 in precipitation 2.2 OctNovember: 4.60 in precipitation 4.6 NovDecember: 7.53 in precipitation 7.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Auburn, CA (6 mi away); precipitation: Lake Of The Pines 1.0 Wsw, CA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Auburn

956029b
25 to 30 °F
956039b
25 to 30 °F
956049b
25 to 30 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Auburn

What planting zone is Auburn, CA?

Auburn, CA is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map (9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Auburn, CA?

The median last spring frost is February 25 and the median first fall frost is December 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Auburn station).

When can I plant a garden in Auburn, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 14 – Feb 4; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Auburn, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 55 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Auburn, CA get?

About 40.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).