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

Planting zone for Crescent City, CA

Crescent City, CA is in USDA zone 9b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 11 and the first fall frost November 23.

Crescent 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.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 11
First frostNov 23
Growing season256 days

9b 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 Crescent City, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 23median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season256 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 17 and returns around December 17.

From the NOAA station Crescent City 3 Nnw, CA, elevation 43 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 Crescent City

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 28 – Oct 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 9 – Dec 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 23) 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 95531 came on Jan 30 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1).

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 Crescent City, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95531 is Tsunami — gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Tsunami, 2 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 95531; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Crescent City, CA

Summer high66 °Faverage high, August
Winter low39 °Faverage low, December
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights17nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,363base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation73.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 54 °F, low 40 °F 54°40° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 40 °F 55°40° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 41 °F 56°41° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 43 °F 58°43° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 46 °F 61°46° MayJune: average high 63 °F, low 48 °F 63°48° JunJuly: average high 65 °F, low 51 °F 65°51° JulAugust: average high 66 °F, low 52 °F 66°52° AugSeptember: average high 66 °F, low 48 °F 66°48° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 46 °F 62°46° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 42 °F 57°42° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 39 °F 53°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″14″January: 11.91 in precipitation 11.9 JanFebruary: 9.13 in precipitation 9.1 FebMarch: 10.01 in precipitation 10.0 MarApril: 6.49 in precipitation 6.5 AprMay: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 JunJuly: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 SepOctober: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 10.22 in precipitation 10.2 NovDecember: 14.50 in precipitation 14.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Crescent City 3 Nnw, CA (6 mi away); precipitation: Crescent City 5.5 Nne, CA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Crescent City

955319b
25 to 30 °F
955329b
25 to 30 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Crescent City

What planting zone is Crescent City, CA?

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

When is the last frost in Crescent City, CA?

The median last spring frost is March 11 and the median first fall frost is November 23 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crescent City 3 Nnw station).

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

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 28 – Feb 18; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 18, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Crescent City, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day is 15 h 13 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).

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

About 73.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).