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

Planting zone for 92356 — Lucerne Valley, CA

ZIP code 92356 (Lucerne Valley, San Bernardino County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is May 27 and the first fall frost October 4.

Where ZIP 92356 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMay 27
First frostOct 4
2012 zone8b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Lucerne Valley, 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 Lucerne Valley, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 27median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 9only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 4median — 10% chance by Sep 21
Growing season131 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 4 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station Big Bear Lake, CA — 17 miles away, elevation 6,752 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 92356

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 15 – May 6
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 6 – May 20
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 6 – May 20
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 29 – May 13
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 6 – May 20
TomatoesStart indoors · Apr 1 – Apr 15
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 3 – Jun 17
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 10 – Jun 24
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 3 – Jun 17
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 3 – Jun 17
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 3 – Jun 17
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 9 – Aug 23
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 20 – Oct 25
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 27) and first fall frost (Oct 4) 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 92356 came on Jan 29 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3).

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 Lucerne Valley, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 92356 is Glendale variant — silt loam, moderately well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH8.5alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classFarmland of statewide importanceUSDA classification

Map unit: GLENDALE VARIANT SILT LOAM, SALINE-ALKALI.

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 92356; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lucerne Valley, CA

Summer high80 °Faverage high, July
Winter low24 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights176nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,644base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 51 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation16.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°32 °FJanuary: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° JanFebruary: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 27 °F 51°27° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 31 °F 57°31° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 37 °F 66°37° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 44 °F 75°44° JunJuly: average high 80 °F, low 51 °F 80°51° JulAugust: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° AugSeptember: average high 73 °F, low 44 °F 73°44° SepOctober: average high 63 °F, low 35 °F 63°35° OctNovember: average high 54 °F, low 28 °F 54°28° NovDecember: average high 46 °F, low 24 °F 46°24° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.37 in precipitation 3.4 JanFebruary: 3.52 in precipitation 3.5 FebMarch: 2.19 in precipitation 2.2 MarApril: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 AprMay: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 MayJune: 0.12 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 JulAugust: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 SepOctober: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 OctNovember: 1.31 in precipitation 1.3 NovDecember: 2.50 in precipitation 2.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Big Bear Lake, CA (17 mi away); precipitation: Fawnskin 0.3 Ne, CA (16 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

6 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

923078b
Apple Valley, CA · 15 mi
923088b
Apple Valley, CA · 16 mi
923337a
Fawnskin, CA · 17 mi
923147a
Big Bear City, CA · 18 mi
923867a
Sugarloaf, CA · 18 mi
923157b
Big Bear Lake, CA · 19 mi
923417b
Green Valley Lake, CA · 20 mi
923218a
Cedar Glen, CA · 22 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 92356

What planting zone is ZIP code 92356?

ZIP code 92356 (Lucerne Valley, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Lucerne Valley, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 92356 is May 27; after June 9 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Big Bear Lake station.

When is the first frost in Lucerne Valley, CA?

The median first fall frost near 92356 is October 4, giving a median frost-free growing season of 131 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 92356?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Apr 1 – Apr 15 and set transplants outside around Jun 3 – Jun 17, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 92356 get?

About 16.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fawnskin 0.3 Ne station).

How hot do summers get in Lucerne Valley, CA?

The average high peaks at 80 °F in July, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 92356 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Glendale variant at the center of ZIP 92356: silt loam, moderately well drained, pH about 8.5 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Lucerne Valley, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 92356 came on Jan 29 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lucerne Valley, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 92356 is 14 h 28 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.