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

Planting zone for South Lake Tahoe, CA

South Lake Tahoe, CA is in USDA zones 6b to 7a across its 8 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is June 7 and the first fall frost September 28.

South Lake Tahoe on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zones6b–7a−5 to 5 °F
ZIP codes8
Last frostJun 7
First frostSep 28
Growing season113 days

6b 7 ZIPs   7a 1 ZIP

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for South Lake Tahoe, 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 South Lake Tahoe, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJune 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 24only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostSeptember 28median — 10% chance by Sep 10
Growing season113 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 25 and returns around October 12.

From the NOAA station Dagget Pass, NV, elevation 7,333 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 South Lake Tahoe

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 17
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 17 – May 31
Onion setsPlant outdoors · May 10 – May 24
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 17 – May 31
LettuceSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 17 – May 31
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 21 – Jul 5
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 14 – Jun 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 3 – Aug 17
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 14 – Oct 19
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jun 7) and first fall frost (Sep 28) 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 96154 came on Mar 21 — 27 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 17).

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 South Lake Tahoe, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96154 is Cagwin — slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter80%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Cagwin-Rock outcrop complex, 5 to 15 percent slopes, extremely stony.

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 96154; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in South Lake Tahoe, CA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights222nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,093base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 54 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 26 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation33.3 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 18 °F 43°18° JanFebruary: average high 43 °F, low 19 °F 43°19° FebMarch: average high 48 °F, low 24 °F 48°24° MarApril: average high 53 °F, low 28 °F 53°28° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 33 °F 62°33° MayJune: average high 72 °F, low 38 °F 72°38° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 43 °F 80°43° JulAugust: average high 80 °F, low 41 °F 80°41° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 35 °F 73°35° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 29 °F 62°29° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 23 °F 51°23° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 18 °F 43°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.83 in precipitation 5.8 JanFebruary: 5.69 in precipitation 5.7 FebMarch: 4.30 in precipitation 4.3 MarApril: 2.80 in precipitation 2.8 AprMay: 1.74 in precipitation 1.7 MayJune: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 0.35 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 SepOctober: 2.00 in precipitation 2.0 OctNovember: 3.13 in precipitation 3.1 NovDecember: 5.86 in precipitation 5.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: South Lake Tahoe Airport, CA (2 mi away); precipitation: South Lake Tahoe 4.9 Sw, CA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in South Lake Tahoe

961506b
−5 to 0 °F
961516b
−5 to 0 °F
961526b
−5 to 0 °F
961546b
−5 to 0 °F
961557a
0 to 5 °F
961566b
−5 to 0 °F
961576b
−5 to 0 °F
961586b
−5 to 0 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about South Lake Tahoe

What planting zone is South Lake Tahoe, CA?

South Lake Tahoe, CA is in USDA hardiness zones 6b to 7a on the 2023 map (6b: −5 to 0 °F; 7a: 0 to 5 °F).

When is the last frost in South Lake Tahoe, CA?

The median last spring frost is June 7 and the median first fall frost is September 28 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Dagget Pass station).

When can I plant a garden in South Lake Tahoe, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Apr 26 – May 17; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Jun 14, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in South Lake Tahoe, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 54 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does South Lake Tahoe, CA get?

About 33.3 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).