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

Planting zone for California City, CA

California City, CA is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 19 and the first fall frost November 25.

California City 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 19
First frostNov 25
Growing season251 days

8b 2 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 California City, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 19median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 25median — 10% chance by Nov 5
Growing season251 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 20 and returns around December 8.

From the NOAA station Randsburg, CA, elevation 3,570 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 California City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 2 – Apr 16
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 30 – Oct 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 11 – Dec 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 19) and first fall frost (Nov 25) 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 93504 came on Jan 31 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4).

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 California City, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93504 is Alko — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.2alkaline; 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: Alko-Neuralia sandy loams, 0 to 9 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 93504; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in California City, CA

Summer high101 °Faverage high, July
Winter low35 °Faverage low, January
Hot days106days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights33nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,700base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 32 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation6.7 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall2 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 35 °F 58°35° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 46 °F 75°46° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 54 °F 84°54° MayJune: average high 95 °F, low 63 °F 95°63° JunJuly: average high 101 °F, low 69 °F 101°69° JulAugust: average high 100 °F, low 68 °F 100°68° AugSeptember: average high 92 °F, low 62 °F 92°62° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 52 °F 80°52° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 35 °F 57°35° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 1.38 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 1.4 JanFebruary: 1.56 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.6 FebMarch: 0.98 in precipitation, 0.6 in snowfall 1.0❄1 MarApril: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 AprMay: 0.14 in precipitation 0.1 MayJune: 0.03 in precipitation 0.0 JunJuly: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.19 in precipitation 0.2 AugSeptember: 0.19 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 OctNovember: 0.47 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.5 NovDecember: 0.69 in precipitation, 0.8 in snowfall 0.7❄1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Randsburg, CA (18 mi away); precipitation: Randsburg, CA (18 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in California City

935048b
15 to 20 °F
935058b
15 to 20 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about California City

What planting zone is California City, CA?

California City, CA is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in California City, CA?

The median last spring frost is March 19 and the median first fall frost is November 25 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Randsburg station).

When can I plant a garden in California City, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 5 – Feb 26; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 26, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in California City, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 32 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does California City, CA get?

About 6.7 inches of precipitation a year and 2 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).