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

Planting zone for Trabuco Canyon, CA

Trabuco Canyon, CA is in USDA zone 10b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is January 28 and the first fall frost December 18.

Trabuco Canyon 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.

Zone10b35 to 40 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostJan 28
First frostDec 18
Growing season329 days

10b 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 Trabuco Canyon, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJanuary 28median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsFebruary 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 18median — 10% chance by Dec 1
Growing season329 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 1 and returns around December 27.

From the NOAA station Elsinore, CA, elevation 1,270 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 Trabuco Canyon

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 17 – Jan 7
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 19 – Dec 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 7 – Jan 21
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
LettuceSow outdoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 7 – Jan 21
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 3 – Dec 17
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 19 – Dec 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 11 – Feb 25
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 23 – Nov 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 4 – Jan 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jan 28) and first fall frost (Dec 18) 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 92678 came on Jan 18 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 24).

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 Trabuco Canyon, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 92678 is Friant — gravelly fine sandy loam, well drained.

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

Map unit: Friant fine sandy loam, 30 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 92678; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Trabuco Canyon, CA

Summer high98 °Faverage high, August
Winter low40 °Faverage low, December
Hot days123days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights9nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,940base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 23 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 55 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation14.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 66 °F, low 42 °F 66°42° JanFebruary: average high 67 °F, low 43 °F 67°43° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 46 °F 72°46° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 58 °F 90°58° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 64 °F 97°64° JulAugust: average high 98 °F, low 65 °F 98°65° AugSeptember: average high 93 °F, low 61 °F 93°61° SepOctober: average high 83 °F, low 54 °F 83°54° OctNovember: average high 73 °F, low 46 °F 73°46° NovDecember: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.38 in precipitation 3.4 FebMarch: 1.77 in precipitation 1.8 MarApril: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 AprMay: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 MayJune: 0.16 in precipitation 0.2 JunJuly: 0.10 in precipitation 0.1 JulAugust: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 AugSeptember: 0.26 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 OctNovember: 0.77 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Elsinore, CA (9 mi away); precipitation: Corona 12.8 Se, CA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Trabuco Canyon

9267810b
35 to 40 °F
9267910b
35 to 40 °F

California planting zones →

Questions about Trabuco Canyon

What planting zone is Trabuco Canyon, CA?

Trabuco Canyon, CA is in USDA hardiness zone 10b on the 2023 map (10b: 35 to 40 °F).

When is the last frost in Trabuco Canyon, CA?

The median last spring frost is January 28 and the median first fall frost is December 18 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Elsinore station).

When can I plant a garden in Trabuco Canyon, CA?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Dec 17 – Jan 7; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Trabuco Canyon, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 23 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Trabuco Canyon, CA get?

About 14.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).