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

Planting zone for Scotts Valley, CA

Scotts Valley, CA is in USDA zone 9b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 25 and the first fall frost November 11.

Scotts Valley 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 25
First frostNov 11
Growing season231 days

9b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Scotts Valley, 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 Scotts Valley, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 11median — 10% chance by Oct 18
Growing season231 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 6 and returns around December 4.

From the NOAA station Ben Lomond #4, CA, elevation 420 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 Scotts Valley

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Mar 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 8 – Apr 22
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 16 – Sep 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 28 – Dec 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 11) 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 95066 came on Jan 19 — 9 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 28).

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 Scotts Valley, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95066 is Nisene — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nisene-Aptos complex, 50 to 75 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 95066; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Scotts Valley, CA

Summer high90 °Faverage high, August
Winter low37 °Faverage low, January
Hot days54days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights37nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,982base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 43 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
Precipitation39.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 65 °F, low 37 °F 65°37° JanFebruary: average high 67 °F, low 39 °F 67°39° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 41 °F 71°41° MarApril: average high 75 °F, low 42 °F 75°42° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 46 °F 80°46° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 49 °F 86°49° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 51 °F 88°51° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 51 °F 90°51° AugSeptember: average high 89 °F, low 49 °F 89°49° SepOctober: average high 83 °F, low 44 °F 83°44° OctNovember: average high 71 °F, low 40 °F 71°40° NovDecember: average high 64 °F, low 37 °F 64°37° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″January: 7.36 in precipitation 7.4 JanFebruary: 7.27 in precipitation 7.3 FebMarch: 7.81 in precipitation 7.8 MarApril: 2.67 in precipitation 2.7 AprMay: 1.30 in precipitation 1.3 MayJune: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 0.01 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.03 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.10 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 1.47 in precipitation 1.5 OctNovember: 3.88 in precipitation 3.9 NovDecember: 7.42 in precipitation 7.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ben Lomond #4, CA (4 mi away); precipitation: Felton 4.5 Nne, CA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Scotts Valley

950669b
25 to 30 °F
950679b
25 to 30 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Scotts Valley

What planting zone is Scotts Valley, CA?

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

When is the last frost in Scotts Valley, CA?

The median last spring frost is March 25 and the median first fall frost is November 11 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ben Lomond #4 station).

When can I plant a garden in Scotts Valley, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 11 – Mar 4; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 1, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Scotts Valley, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 43 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Scotts Valley, CA get?

About 39.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).