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

Planting zone for Lake Elsinore, CA

Lake Elsinore, CA is in USDA zones 9b to 10a across its 3 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is January 28 and the first fall frost December 18.

Lake Elsinore on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zones9b–10a25 to 35 °F
ZIP codes3
Last frostJan 28
First frostDec 18
Growing season329 days

9b 2 ZIPs   10a 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lake Elsinore, CA…

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 Lake Elsinore, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJanuary 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsFebruary 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 18median — 10% chance by Dec 1
Growing season329 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 1 and returns around December 27.

From the NOAA station Elsinore, CA, elevation 1,270 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 Lake Elsinore

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 17 – Jan 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 19 – Dec 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 3 – Dec 17
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 19 – Dec 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 11 – Feb 25
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 23 – Nov 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 4 – Jan 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jan 28) and first fall frost (Dec 18) 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 92531 came on Jan 18 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 24).

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 Lake Elsinore, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 92531 is Honcut — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Honcut sandy loam, 2 to 8 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 92531; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lake Elsinore, CA

Summer high98 °Faverage high, August
Winter low40 °Faverage low, December
Hot days123days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights9nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,940base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation11.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° JanFebruary: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 58 °F 90°58° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 64 °F 97°64° JulAugust: average high 98 °F, low 65 °F 98°65° AugSeptember: average high 93 °F, low 61 °F 93°61° SepOctober: average high 83 °F, low 54 °F 83°54° OctNovember: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 2.97 in precipitation 3.0 JanFebruary: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 FebMarch: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 0.54 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.5 AprMay: 0.21 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.07 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.18 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.06 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.17 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 OctNovember: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 2.01 in precipitation 2.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elsinore, CA (2 mi away); precipitation: Elsinore, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Lake Elsinore

9253010a
30 to 35 °F
925319b
25 to 30 °F
925329b
25 to 30 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Lake Elsinore

What planting zone is Lake Elsinore, CA?

Lake Elsinore, CA is in USDA hardiness zones 9b to 10a on the 2023 map (9b: 25 to 30 °F; 10a: 30 to 35 °F).

When is the last frost in Lake Elsinore, CA?

The median last spring frost is January 28 and the median first fall frost is December 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elsinore station).

When can I plant a garden in Lake Elsinore, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Dec 17 – Jan 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Lake Elsinore, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Lake Elsinore, CA get?

About 11.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).