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

Planting zone for 92179 — San Diego, CA

ZIP code 92179 (San Diego, San Diego County) is in USDA zone 10b: the coldest winter night averages 35 to 40 °F.

Where ZIP 92179 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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
Coldest night1.7 to 4.4 °C
Last frostrare
First frostrare
2012 zone10a

Was 10a 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 10b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for San Diego, 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 San Diego Brown Field, CA — 2 miles away, elevation 515 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 92179 came on Jan 17 — 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 23).

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 San Diego, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 92179 is Stockpen — gravelly clay loam, moderately well drained.

TextureGravelly clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: Stockpen gravelly clay loam, 0 to 2 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 92179; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in San Diego, CA

Summer high81 °Faverage high, August
Winter low44 °Faverage low, January
Hot days13days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights1nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,638base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 18 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 00 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation10.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° JanFebruary: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 47 °F 68°47° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 50 °F 70°50° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 54 °F 71°54° MayJune: average high 74 °F, low 58 °F 74°58° JunJuly: average high 78 °F, low 62 °F 78°62° JulAugust: average high 81 °F, low 63 °F 81°63° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 61 °F 80°61° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 55 °F 77°55° OctNovember: average high 72 °F, low 49 °F 72°49° NovDecember: average high 67 °F, low 44 °F 67°44° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 1.83 in precipitation 1.8 JanFebruary: 2.39 in precipitation 2.4 FebMarch: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 AprMay: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 MayJune: 0.10 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.04 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.01 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.18 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 0.44 in precipitation 0.4 OctNovember: 0.83 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 1.82 in precipitation 1.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: San Diego Brown Field, CA (2 mi away); precipitation: San Diego Brown Field, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 10b.

All 73 ZIP codes in San Diego → · California planting zones →

Questions about 92179

What planting zone is ZIP code 92179?

ZIP code 92179 (San Diego, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 10b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 35 to 40 °F (1.7 to 4.4 °C).

How much rain and snow does 92179 get?

About 10.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, San Diego Brown Field station).

How hot do summers get in San Diego, CA?

The average high peaks at 81 °F in August, with about 13 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 92179 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Stockpen at the center of ZIP 92179: gravelly clay loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in San Diego, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 92179 came on Jan 17 in 2026, 6 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 23), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in San Diego, CA?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 92179 is 14 h 18 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

Did the zone for 92179 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 92179 in zone 10a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 10b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.