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

Planting zone for Bishop, CA

Bishop, CA is in USDA zones 7a to 8a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 29 and the first fall frost October 15.

Bishop on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 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.

Zones7a–8a0 to 15 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 29
First frostOct 15
Growing season166 days

7a 1 ZIP   8a 1 ZIP

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 Bishop, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season166 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around October 25.

From the NOAA station Bishop Airport, CA, elevation 4,101 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 Bishop

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 13 – May 27
BeansSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 29) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 93514 came on Feb 18 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25).

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 Bishop, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93514 is Honova — loamy coarse sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy coarse sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Honova loamy coarse sand, 9 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 93514; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Bishop, CA

Summer high100 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, December
Hot days104days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights139nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,886base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 35 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation6.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 56 °F, low 24 °F 56°24° JanFebruary: average high 59 °F, low 26 °F 59°26° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 31 °F 67°31° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 37 °F 74°37° AprMay: average high 83 °F, low 44 °F 83°44° MayJune: average high 94 °F, low 51 °F 94°51° JunJuly: average high 100 °F, low 57 °F 100°57° JulAugust: average high 98 °F, low 54 °F 98°54° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 47 °F 90°47° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 37 °F 78°37° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 27 °F 64°27° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 22 °F 55°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″January: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 JanFebruary: 0.93 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 AprMay: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 MayJune: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 JunJuly: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.22 in precipitation 0.2 AugSeptember: 0.17 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 0.33 in precipitation 0.3 NovDecember: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Bishop Airport, CA (9 mi away); precipitation: Bishop 1.4 Wnw, CA (8 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Bishop

935147a
0 to 5 °F
935158a
10 to 15 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Bishop

What planting zone is Bishop, CA?

Bishop, CA is in USDA hardiness zones 7a to 8a on the 2023 map (7a: 0 to 5 °F; 8a: 10 to 15 °F).

When is the last frost in Bishop, CA?

The median last spring frost is April 29 and the median first fall frost is October 15 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Bishop Airport station).

When can I plant a garden in Bishop, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 18 – Apr 8; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 6, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Bishop, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Bishop, CA get?

About 6.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).