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

Planting zone for Madera, CA

Madera, CA is in USDA zones 9a to 9b across its 4 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 18 and the first fall frost November 27.

Madera 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.

Zones9a–9b20 to 30 °F
ZIP codes4
Last frostFeb 18
First frostNov 27
Growing season281 days

9a 1 ZIP   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 Madera, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 18median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 18only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 27median — 10% chance by Nov 10
Growing season281 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 21 and returns around December 10.

From the NOAA station Madera, CA, elevation 269 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 Madera

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 7 – Jan 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 10 – Dec 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 21 – Feb 4
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 24 – Jan 7
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 10 – Dec 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 2 – Oct 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 13 – Dec 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 18) and first fall frost (Nov 27) 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 93639 came on Jan 30 — 3 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 Madera, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93639 is Tujunga — loamy sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Tujunga loamy sand, 0 to 3 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 93639; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Madera, CA

Summer high96 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, December
Hot days100days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights26nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,942base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 42 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation11.3 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 55 °F, low 38 °F 55°38° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° MarApril: average high 73 °F, low 47 °F 73°47° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 53 °F 82°53° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 59 °F 90°59° JunJuly: average high 96 °F, low 64 °F 96°64° JulAugust: average high 95 °F, low 63 °F 95°63° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 58 °F 89°58° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° NovDecember: average high 55 °F, low 36 °F 55°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 2.14 in precipitation 2.1 JanFebruary: 2.09 in precipitation 2.1 FebMarch: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 MarApril: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 AprMay: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.20 in precipitation 0.2 JunJuly: 0.00 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.00 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.07 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 OctNovember: 1.01 in precipitation 1.0 NovDecember: 1.89 in precipitation 1.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Madera, CA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Madera, CA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Madera

936369b
25 to 30 °F
936379a
20 to 25 °F
936389b
25 to 30 °F
936399b
25 to 30 °F

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Questions about Madera

What planting zone is Madera, CA?

Madera, CA is in USDA hardiness zones 9a to 9b on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F; 9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Madera, CA?

The median last spring frost is February 18 and the median first fall frost is November 27 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Madera station).

When can I plant a garden in Madera, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 7 – Jan 28; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 25, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Madera, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Madera, CA get?

About 11.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).