Planting zone for 92196 — San Diego, CA
ZIP code 92196 (San Diego, San Diego County) is in USDA zone 10b: the coldest winter night averages 35 to 40 °F.
Where ZIP 92196 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 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 ServiceLoading 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 — 14 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 92196 came on Jan 19 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 21).
Jan 212026
Jan 19
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 center of ZIP 92196 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 92196; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in San Diego, CA
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: San Diego Lindbergh Field, CA (2 mi away); precipitation: San Diego Lindbergh Field, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
2 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.
All 73 ZIP codes in San Diego → · California planting zones →
Questions about 92196
What planting zone is ZIP code 92196?
ZIP code 92196 (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 92196 get?
About 9.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, San Diego Lindbergh Field station).
How hot do summers get in San Diego, CA?
The average high peaks at 77 °F in August, with about 3 days a year at 90 °F or more.
Did spring come early in San Diego, CA in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 92196 came on Jan 19 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 21), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in San Diego, CA?
Intermediate onions: the longest day near 92196 is 14 h 18 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.
Did the zone for 92196 change?
Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 92196 in zone 10a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 10b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.