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

Planting zone for Solvang, CA

Solvang, CA is in USDA zone 9a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 11 and the first fall frost November 8.

Solvang 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 11
First frostNov 8
Growing season209 days

9a 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 Solvang, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 8median — 10% chance by Oct 14
Growing season209 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 27 and returns around November 27.

From the NOAA station Cachuma Lake, CA, elevation 791 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 Solvang

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 14
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 28 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 21 – Apr 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 14 – Mar 28
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 14 – Feb 28
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 18 – May 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 31 – Feb 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 13 – Sep 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 25 – Nov 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 11) and first fall frost (Nov 8) 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 93464 came on Jan 19 — 7 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26).

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 Solvang, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93464 is Chamise — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH5.8moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Chamise sandy loam, 5 to 9 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 93464; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Solvang, CA

Summer high93 °Faverage high, August
Winter low33 °Faverage low, December
Hot days86days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights19nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,910base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation21.1 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 67 °F, low 34 °F 67°34° JanFebruary: average high 68 °F, low 35 °F 68°35° FebMarch: average high 71 °F, low 38 °F 71°38° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 39 °F 76°39° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 43 °F 80°43° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 45 °F 86°45° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 48 °F 92°48° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 49 °F 93°49° AugSeptember: average high 91 °F, low 47 °F 91°47° SepOctober: average high 84 °F, low 43 °F 84°43° OctNovember: average high 75 °F, low 38 °F 75°38° NovDecember: average high 67 °F, low 33 °F 67°33° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 4.89 in precipitation 4.9 JanFebruary: 5.29 in precipitation 5.3 FebMarch: 3.61 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 1.31 in precipitation 1.3 AprMay: 0.54 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.06 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.01 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.00 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.08 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 1.24 in precipitation 1.2 NovDecember: 3.30 in precipitation 3.3 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Cachuma Lake, CA (10 mi away); precipitation: Cachuma Lake, CA (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Solvang

934639a
20 to 25 °F
934649a
20 to 25 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Solvang

What planting zone is Solvang, CA?

Solvang, CA is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Solvang, CA?

The median last spring frost is April 11 and the median first fall frost is November 8 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Cachuma Lake station).

When can I plant a garden in Solvang, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 28 – Mar 21; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Apr 18, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Solvang, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Solvang, CA get?

About 21.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).