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

Planting zone for 93251 — Mc Kittrick, CA

ZIP code 93251 (Mc Kittrick, Kern County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is February 9 and the first fall frost November 26.

Where ZIP 93251 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.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
Coldest night−3.9 to −1.1 °C
Last frostFeb 9
First frostNov 26
2012 zone9a

Was 9a 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 9b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mc Kittrick, 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 Mc Kittrick, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 9median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 6only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 26median — 10% chance by Nov 10
Growing season289 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 11 and returns around December 8.

From the NOAA station Buttonwillow, CA — 13 miles away, elevation 226 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 93251

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 29 – Jan 12
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 29 – Jan 19
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 1 – Dec 15
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 19 – Feb 2
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 12 – Jan 26
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 15 – Dec 29
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 1 – Dec 15
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 23 – Mar 9
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 1 – Oct 15
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 12 – Dec 17
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 9) and first fall frost (Nov 26) 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 93251 came on Jan 30 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 29).

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 Mc Kittrick, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93251 is Kimberlina — gravelly sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Kimberlina gravelly sandy loam, 2 to 5 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 93251; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mc Kittrick, CA

Summer high98 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, December
Hot days115days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights24nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,628base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 33 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 46 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 38 °F 58°38° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 49 °F 76°49° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 56 °F 84°56° MayJune: average high 92 °F, low 62 °F 92°62° JunJuly: average high 98 °F, low 68 °F 98°68° JulAugust: average high 97 °F, low 66 °F 97°66° AugSeptember: average high 91 °F, low 60 °F 91°60° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 51 °F 81°51° OctNovember: average high 67 °F, low 41 °F 67°41° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 36 °F 58°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.19 in precipitation 1.2 JanFebruary: 1.06 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 0.47 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 0.27 in precipitation 0.3 MayJune: 0.04 in precipitation 0.0 JunJuly: 0.07 in precipitation 0.1 JulAugust: 0.00 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.03 in precipitation 0.0 SepOctober: 0.26 in precipitation 0.3 OctNovember: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 NovDecember: 1.01 in precipitation 1.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Buttonwillow, CA (13 mi away); precipitation: Buttonwillow, CA (13 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

932249b
Fellows, CA · 9 mi
932069a
Buttonwillow, CA · 13 mi
932769b
Tupman, CA · 17 mi
932499b
Lost Hills, CA · 20 mi
932689b
Taft, CA · 21 mi
932809a
Wasco, CA · 24 mi
932639a
Shafter, CA · 25 mi
933149b
Bakersfield, CA · 26 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 93251

What planting zone is ZIP code 93251?

ZIP code 93251 (Mc Kittrick, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 25 to 30 °F (−3.9 to −1.1 °C).

When is the last frost in Mc Kittrick, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 93251 is February 9; after March 6 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Buttonwillow station.

When is the first frost in Mc Kittrick, CA?

The median first fall frost near 93251 is November 26, giving a median frost-free growing season of 289 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 93251?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 15 – Dec 29 and set transplants outside around Feb 16 – Mar 2, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 93251 get?

About 6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Buttonwillow station).

How hot do summers get in Mc Kittrick, CA?

The average high peaks at 98 °F in July, with about 115 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 93251 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Kimberlina at the center of ZIP 93251: gravelly sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Mc Kittrick, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 93251 came on Jan 30 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 29), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mc Kittrick, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 93251 is 14 h 33 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 93251 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 93251 in zone 9a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.