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

Planting zone for Ojai, CA

Ojai, CA is in USDA zones 8b to 9b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 21 and the first fall frost November 15.

Ojai 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.

Zones8b–9b15 to 30 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 21
First frostNov 15
Growing season235 days

8b 1 ZIP   9b 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

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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 Ojai, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 21median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 15only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 15median — 10% chance by Oct 28
Growing season235 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 17 and returns around December 1.

From the NOAA station Ojai, CA, elevation 745 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 Ojai

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 21
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 7 – Feb 28
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 28 – Mar 14
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 21 – Mar 7
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 24 – Feb 7
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 10 – Jan 24
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 4 – Apr 18
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 28 – Apr 11
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 20 – Oct 4
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 1 – Dec 6
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 21) and first fall frost (Nov 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 93023 came on Jan 18 — 15 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 Ojai, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93023 is Modjeska family — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.0slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Modjeska-Lodo families association, 40 to 80 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 93023; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ojai, CA

Summer high91 °Faverage high, August
Winter low33 °Faverage low, December
Hot days75days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights31nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,958base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation20.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 66 °F, low 35 °F 66°35° JanFebruary: average high 67 °F, low 36 °F 67°36° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 39 °F 70°39° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 41 °F 74°41° AprMay: average high 77 °F, low 46 °F 77°46° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 50 °F 82°50° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 54 °F 89°54° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 54 °F 91°54° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 51 °F 88°51° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 45 °F 81°45° OctNovember: average high 73 °F, low 37 °F 73°37° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 33 °F 65°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.09 in precipitation 5.1 JanFebruary: 5.24 in precipitation 5.2 FebMarch: 3.41 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.4 MarApril: 1.08 in precipitation 1.1 AprMay: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.11 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.07 in precipitation 0.1 JulAugust: 0.00 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.10 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 NovDecember: 2.88 in precipitation 2.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ojai, CA (4 mi away); precipitation: Ojai, CA (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Ojai

930238b
15 to 20 °F
930249b
25 to 30 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Ojai

What planting zone is Ojai, CA?

Ojai, CA is in USDA hardiness zones 8b to 9b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F; 9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Ojai, CA?

The median last spring frost is March 21 and the median first fall frost is November 15 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ojai station).

When can I plant a garden in Ojai, CA?

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

What kind of onions grow in Ojai, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 28 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Ojai, CA get?

About 20.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).