Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated Oct 29, 2026

Planting zone for 93638 — Madera, CA

ZIP code 93638 (Madera, Madera County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is February 12 and the first fall frost November 30.

Where ZIP 93638 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 12

First frostNov 30

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 Madera, 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 Madera, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free

Last spring frostFebruary 12median — 50% chance of a later frost

Safe for tender plantsMarch 17only 10% chance of frost after

First fall frostNovember 30median — 10% chance by Nov 14

Growing season293 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 7 and returns around December 15.

From the NOAA station Madera Municipal Airport, CA — 6 miles away, elevation 253 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 93638

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

PeasSow outdoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15

SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 1 – Jan 22

Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 4 – Dec 18

Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 22 – Feb 5

Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29

PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5

LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 15 – Jan 29

Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 22 – Feb 5

TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 18 – Jan 1

TomatoesTransplant · Feb 19 – Mar 5

Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 4 – Dec 18

Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 26 – Mar 12

BeansSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5

Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5

Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5

Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 5 – Oct 19

GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 16 – Dec 21

Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 12) and first fall frost (Nov 30) 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 93638 came on Jan 30 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1).

average
Feb 12026
Jan 30

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 Madera, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93638 is Atwater — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding

pH6.7neutral; 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: Atwater loamy sand, moderately deep and very deep over hardpan, 3 to 8 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 93638; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Madera, CA

Summer high98 °Faverage high, July

Winter low38 °Faverage low, December

Hot days109days a year at 90 °F or more

Freezing nights25nights a year at 32 °F or less

Growing degree days5,171base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat

Longest day14 h 42 mindaylight on June 21

Shortest day9 h 37 mindaylight on December 21

Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully

Precipitation13.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

Precipitation by month inches

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Madera Municipal Airport, CA (6 mi away); precipitation: Lake Madera 1.3 Nne, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

Chowchilla, CA · 14 mi

All 4 ZIP codes in Madera → · California planting zones →

Questions about 93638

What planting zone is ZIP code 93638?

ZIP code 93638 (Madera, 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 Madera, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 93638 is February 12; after March 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Madera Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Madera, CA?

The median first fall frost near 93638 is November 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 293 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 93638?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 18 – Jan 1 and set transplants outside around Feb 19 – Mar 5, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 93638 get?

About 13.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Lake Madera 1.3 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Madera, CA?

The average high peaks at 98 °F in July, with about 109 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 93638 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Atwater at the center of ZIP 93638: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Madera, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 93638 came on Jan 30 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 Madera, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 93638 is 14 h 42 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 93638 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 93638 in zone 9a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.