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

Planting zone for Tehachapi, CA

Tehachapi, CA is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is April 28 and the first fall frost October 26.

Tehachapi 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostApr 28
First frostOct 26
Growing season183 days

8b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Tehachapi, 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 Tehachapi, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 21only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 26median — 10% chance by Oct 4
Growing season183 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around November 16.

From the NOAA station Tehachapi 4 Se, CA, elevation 4,219 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 Tehachapi

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 17 – Apr 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
TomatoesTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 12 – May 26
BeansSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 31 – Sep 14
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 12 – Nov 16
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 28) and first fall frost (Oct 26) 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 93581 came on Feb 3 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 13).

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 Tehachapi, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93581 is Tehachapi — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.3neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Tehachapi sandy loam, 2 to 15 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 93581; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tehachapi, CA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low31 °Faverage low, February
Hot days28days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights82nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,922base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 47 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation12.7 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 52 °F, low 32 °F 52°32° JanFebruary: average high 53 °F, low 31 °F 53°31° FebMarch: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 37 °F 61°37° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 52 °F 79°52° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 58 °F 86°58° JulAugust: average high 86 °F, low 57 °F 86°57° AugSeptember: average high 81 °F, low 51 °F 81°51° SepOctober: average high 71 °F, low 43 °F 71°43° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 37 °F 59°37° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 31 °F 51°31° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.42 in precipitation 2.4 JanFebruary: 3.01 in precipitation 3.0 FebMarch: 2.03 in precipitation 2.0 MarApril: 0.78 in precipitation 0.8 AprMay: 0.39 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.11 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.26 in precipitation 0.3 JulAugust: 0.09 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.15 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 OctNovember: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 NovDecember: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Tehachapi 4 Se, CA (9 mi away); precipitation: Tehachapi 4 Se, CA (9 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Tehachapi

935618b
15 to 20 °F
935818b
15 to 20 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Tehachapi

What planting zone is Tehachapi, CA?

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

When is the last frost in Tehachapi, CA?

The median last spring frost is April 28 and the median first fall frost is October 26 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Tehachapi 4 Se station).

When can I plant a garden in Tehachapi, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Mar 17 – Apr 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about May 5, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Tehachapi, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Tehachapi, CA get?

About 12.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).