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

Planting zone for 93502 — Mojave, CA

ZIP code 93502 (Mojave, Kern County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 15 and the first fall frost November 17.

Where ZIP 93502 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 15
First frostNov 17
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 Mojave, 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 Mojave, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 15median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 17median — 10% chance by Oct 31
Growing season241 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 22 and returns around November 30.

From the NOAA station Mojave, CA — within 1 mile, elevation 2,736 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 93502

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 22
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 15 – Mar 1
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 18 – Feb 1
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 29 – Apr 12
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 22 – Oct 6
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 3 – Dec 8
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 15) and first fall frost (Nov 17) 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 93502 came on Feb 1 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4).

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 Mojave, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93502 is Garlock — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Garlock loamy sand, 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 93502; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mojave, CA

Summer high97 °Faverage high, July
Winter low32 °Faverage low, December
Hot days110days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights40nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,174base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 31 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 48 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation5.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 33 °F 58°33° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 35 °F 60°35° FebMarch: average high 67 °F, low 40 °F 67°40° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 45 °F 72°45° AprMay: average high 81 °F, low 53 °F 81°53° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 64 °F 91°64° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 69 °F 97°69° JulAugust: average high 97 °F, low 67 °F 97°67° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 61 °F 90°61° SepOctober: average high 78 °F, low 49 °F 78°49° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 39 °F 66°39° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 32 °F 57°32° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 1.08 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 1.1❄1 JanFebruary: 1.49 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 1.5 FebMarch: 0.80 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.8 MarApril: 0.21 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.13 in precipitation 0.1 MayJune: 0.03 in precipitation 0.0 JunJuly: 0.18 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.17 in precipitation 0.2 AugSeptember: 0.10 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 OctNovember: 0.34 in precipitation 0.3 NovDecember: 0.81 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Mojave, CA (within 1 mile); precipitation: Mojave, 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.

935018b
Mojave, CA · 3 mi
935058b
California City, CA · 13 mi
935608b
Rosamond, CA · 15 mi
935238b
Edwards, CA · 17 mi
935048b
California City, CA · 19 mi
935198b
Cantil, CA · 22 mi
935248a
Edwards, CA · 22 mi
935188b
Caliente, CA · 29 mi

All 2 ZIP codes in Mojave → · California planting zones →

Questions about 93502

What planting zone is ZIP code 93502?

ZIP code 93502 (Mojave, 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 Mojave, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 93502 is March 15; after April 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mojave station.

When is the first frost in Mojave, CA?

The median first fall frost near 93502 is November 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 241 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 93502?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 18 – Feb 1 and set transplants outside around Mar 22 – Apr 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 93502 get?

About 5.8 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Mojave station).

How hot do summers get in Mojave, CA?

The average high peaks at 97 °F in July, with about 110 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 93502 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Garlock at the center of ZIP 93502: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Mojave, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 93502 came on Feb 1 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mojave, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 93502 is 14 h 31 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.