Planting zone for 93102 — Santa Barbara, CA
ZIP code 93102 (Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County) is in USDA zone 10b: the coldest winter night averages 35 to 40 °F.
Where ZIP 93102 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 Santa Barbara, 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 Santa Barbara, CA — within 1 mile, elevation 16 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 93102 came on Jan 17 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 22).
Jan 222026
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 Santa Barbara, CA
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93102 is Milpitas — fine sandy loam, moderately well drained.
Map unit: Milpitas-Positas fine sandy loams, 2 to 9 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 93102; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Santa Barbara, CA
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Santa Barbara, CA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Santa Barbara, CA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
1 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.
All 17 ZIP codes in Santa Barbara → · California planting zones →
Questions about 93102
What planting zone is ZIP code 93102?
ZIP code 93102 (Santa Barbara, 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 93102 get?
About 19 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Barbara station).
How hot do summers get in Santa Barbara, CA?
The average high peaks at 78 °F in August, with about 5 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 93102 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Milpitas at the center of ZIP 93102: fine sandy loam, moderately well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).
Did spring come early in Santa Barbara, CA in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 93102 came on Jan 17 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 22), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Santa Barbara, CA?
Intermediate onions: the longest day near 93102 is 14 h 28 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.
Did the zone for 93102 change?
Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 93102 in zone 10a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 10b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.