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

Planting zone for 93906 — Salinas, CA

ZIP code 93906 (Salinas, Monterey County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is January 29 and the first fall frost December 10.

Where ZIP 93906 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 frostJan 29
First frostDec 10
2012 zone9b

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 9b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Salinas, 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 Salinas, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJanuary 29median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 1only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 10median — 10% chance by Nov 21
Growing season325 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around December 31 and returns around December 25.

From the NOAA station Salinas Municipal Airport, CA — 4 miles away, elevation 75 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 93906

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 18 – Jan 1
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 18 – Jan 8
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 20 – Dec 4
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 8 – Jan 22
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 1 – Jan 15
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 8 – Jan 22
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 4 – Dec 18
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 20 – Dec 4
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 12 – Feb 26
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 15 – Oct 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 26 – Dec 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jan 29) and first fall frost (Dec 10) 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 93906 came on Jan 21 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26).

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 Salinas, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 93906 is Chualar — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.0neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Chualar 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 93906; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Salinas, CA

Summer high74 °Faverage high, September
Winter low41 °Faverage low, December
Hot days6days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights6nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,099base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 39 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation19.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° JanFebruary: average high 63 °F, low 43 °F 63°43° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 46 °F 67°46° AprMay: average high 68 °F, low 50 °F 68°50° MayJune: average high 70 °F, low 53 °F 70°53° JunJuly: average high 71 °F, low 55 °F 71°55° JulAugust: average high 72 °F, low 56 °F 72°56° AugSeptember: average high 74 °F, low 54 °F 74°54° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 50 °F 74°50° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 44 °F 68°44° NovDecember: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 3.50 in precipitation 3.5 JanFebruary: 3.31 in precipitation 3.3 FebMarch: 3.41 in precipitation 3.4 MarApril: 1.35 in precipitation 1.4 AprMay: 0.66 in precipitation 0.7 MayJune: 0.15 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.04 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.05 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.09 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 0.91 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 2.38 in precipitation 2.4 NovDecember: 3.92 in precipitation 3.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Salinas Municipal Airport, CA (4 mi away); precipitation: Salinas 3.2 Nnw, CA (within 1 mile). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 9b.

939059b
Salinas, CA · 3 mi
939029b
Salinas, CA · 3 mi
939129b
Salinas, CA · 3 mi
939159b
Salinas, CA · 3 mi
939079b
Salinas, CA · 4 mi
939019b
Salinas, CA · 5 mi
939629b
Spreckels, CA · 7 mi
939089b
Salinas, CA · 7 mi

All 8 ZIP codes in Salinas → · California planting zones →

Questions about 93906

What planting zone is ZIP code 93906?

ZIP code 93906 (Salinas, 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 Salinas, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 93906 is January 29; after March 1 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Salinas Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Salinas, CA?

The median first fall frost near 93906 is December 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 325 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 93906?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 4 – Dec 18 and set transplants outside around Feb 5 – Feb 19, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 93906 get?

About 19.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Salinas 3.2 Nnw station).

How hot do summers get in Salinas, CA?

The average high peaks at 74 °F in September, with about 6 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 93906 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Chualar at the center of ZIP 93906: loam, well drained, pH about 7.0 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Salinas, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 93906 came on Jan 21 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Salinas, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 93906 is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.