Planting zone for 92038 — La Jolla, CA
ZIP code 92038 (La Jolla, San Diego County) is in USDA zone 11a: the coldest winter night averages 40 to 45 °F.
Where ZIP 92038 is
tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
Was 10b on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 11a means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for La Jolla, 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
A 32 °F frost doesn't happen here in most winters. At the nearest station (NOAA station Rancho Bernardo, CA — 16 miles away, elevation 689 ft) the median growing season is 365 days. When frost does come, it is a midwinter night or two; cover tender plants when a freeze is forecast.
Frost data: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
When spring arrived in 2026
In 2026, spring leaf-out near 92038 came on Jan 17 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 21).
Jan 212026
Jan 17
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 La Jolla, CA
The center of ZIP 92038 is mapped as Urban land: built-over ground without natural soil data. Garden soil here is usually imported or disturbed — test before you plant.
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 92038; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in La Jolla, CA
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: San Diego Seaworld, CA (6 mi away); precipitation: La Jolla 2.1 Se, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
8 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.
Questions about 92038
What planting zone is ZIP code 92038?
ZIP code 92038 (La Jolla, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 11a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 40 to 45 °F (4.4 to 7.2 °C).
How much rain and snow does 92038 get?
About 12.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, La Jolla 2.1 Se station).
How hot do summers get in La Jolla, CA?
The average high peaks at 74 °F in August, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.
Did spring come early in La Jolla, CA in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 92038 came on Jan 17 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in La Jolla, CA?
Intermediate onions: the longest day near 92038 is 14 h 19 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.
Did the zone for 92038 change?
Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 92038 in zone 10b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 11a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.