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

Planting zone for 93282 — Waukena, CA

ZIP code 93282 (Waukena, Tulare County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is February 15 and the first fall frost November 27.

Where ZIP 93282 is

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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostFeb 15
First frostNov 27
2012 zone9a

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 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Waukena, 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 Waukena, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 10only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 27median — 10% chance by Nov 12
Growing season285 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 16 and returns around December 8.

From the NOAA station Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA — 4 miles away, elevation 200 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 93282

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 4 – Jan 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 7 – Dec 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 21 – Jan 4
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 7 – Dec 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 1 – Mar 15
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 2 – Oct 16
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 13 – Dec 18
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 15) and first fall frost (Nov 27) 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 93282 came on Jan 31 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1).

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 Waukena, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93282 is Colpien — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigated and either protected from flooding or not frequently flooded during the growing seasonUSDA classification

Map unit: Colpien 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 93282; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Waukena, CA

Summer high98 °Faverage high, July
Winter low36 °Faverage low, December
Hot days121days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights21nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,369base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 37 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 42 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation8.1 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 56 °F, low 38 °F 56°38° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° FebMarch: average high 69 °F, low 44 °F 69°44° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 47 °F 76°47° AprMay: average high 85 °F, low 54 °F 85°54° MayJune: average high 94 °F, low 59 °F 94°59° JunJuly: average high 98 °F, low 64 °F 98°64° JulAugust: average high 97 °F, low 63 °F 97°63° AugSeptember: average high 92 °F, low 58 °F 92°58° SepOctober: average high 81 °F, low 50 °F 81°50° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 41 °F 66°41° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 36 °F 57°36° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.56 in precipitation 1.6 JanFebruary: 1.44 in precipitation 1.4 FebMarch: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 MarApril: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 AprMay: 0.35 in precipitation 0.3 MayJune: 0.07 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.02 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.00 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.04 in precipitation 0.0 SepOctober: 0.46 in precipitation 0.5 OctNovember: 0.62 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 1.36 in precipitation 1.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Corcoran Irrig Dist, CA (4 mi away); precipitation: Hanford Municipal Airport, CA (14 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.

932749b
Tulare, CA · 8 mi
932129a
Corcoran, CA · 8 mi
932759b
Tulare, CA · 11 mi
932729a
Tipton, CA · 11 mi
932309a
Hanford, CA · 13 mi
932779b
Visalia, CA · 14 mi
932329a
Hanford, CA · 15 mi
932569a
Pixley, CA · 16 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 93282

What planting zone is ZIP code 93282?

ZIP code 93282 (Waukena, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Waukena, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 93282 is February 15; after March 10 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Corcoran Irrig Dist station.

When is the first frost in Waukena, CA?

The median first fall frost near 93282 is November 27, giving a median frost-free growing season of 285 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 93282?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 21 – Jan 4 and set transplants outside around Feb 22 – Mar 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 93282 get?

About 8.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Hanford Municipal Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Waukena, CA?

The average high peaks at 98 °F in July, with about 121 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 93282 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Colpien at the center of ZIP 93282: loam, moderately well drained, pH about 7.5 (slightly alkaline).

Did spring come early in Waukena, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 93282 came on Jan 31 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Waukena, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 93282 is 14 h 37 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.