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

Planting zone for Ridgecrest, CA

Ridgecrest, CA is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 11 and the first fall frost November 12.

Ridgecrest 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 11
First frostNov 12
Growing season244 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 Ridgecrest, 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 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 12median — 10% chance by Oct 29
Growing season244 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 20 and returns around November 23.

From the NOAA station China Lake Naf, CA, elevation 2,231 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 Ridgecrest

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 17 – Oct 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 29 – Dec 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 12) 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 93556 came on Jan 31 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3).

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 Ridgecrest, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93556 is Xeric Torriorthents — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.0alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.3%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Xeric Torriorthents, Typic Torrifluvents, and Aeric Halaquepts; thermic basins.

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 93556; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Ridgecrest, CA

Summer high105 °Faverage high, July
Winter low30 °Faverage low, December
Hot days141days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights59nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days6,075base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 34 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 45 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation4.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°120°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 31 °F 60°31° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 35 °F 65°35° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 42 °F 72°42° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 56 °F 88°56° MayJune: average high 99 °F, low 64 °F 99°64° JunJuly: average high 105 °F, low 70 °F 105°70° JulAugust: average high 103 °F, low 69 °F 103°69° AugSeptember: average high 95 °F, low 61 °F 95°61° SepOctober: average high 83 °F, low 49 °F 83°49° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 37 °F 69°37° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 30 °F 60°30° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 0.94 in precipitation 0.9 JanFebruary: 1.11 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 0.55 in precipitation 0.6 MarApril: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.10 in precipitation 0.1 MayJune: 0.07 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.12 in precipitation 0.1 JulAugust: 0.11 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 OctNovember: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 NovDecember: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: China Lake Naf, CA (5 mi away); precipitation: China Lake Naf, CA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Ridgecrest

935558b
15 to 20 °F
935568b
15 to 20 °F

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Questions about Ridgecrest

What planting zone is Ridgecrest, CA?

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

When is the last frost in Ridgecrest, CA?

The median last spring frost is March 11 and the median first fall frost is November 12 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, China Lake Naf station).

When can I plant a garden in Ridgecrest, 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 Ridgecrest, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 34 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Ridgecrest, CA get?

About 4.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).