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

Planting zone for 94018 — El Granada, CA

ZIP code 94018 (El Granada, San Mateo County) is in USDA zone 10a: the coldest winter night averages 30 to 35 °F. The median last spring frost is February 6 and the first fall frost December 17.

Where ZIP 94018 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.

Zone10a30 to 35 °F
Coldest night−1.1 to 1.7 °C
Last frostFeb 6
First frostDec 17
2012 zone10a

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 10a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for El Granada, 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 El Granada, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 25only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 17median — 10% chance by Nov 25
Growing season328 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 5 and returns around December 31.

From the NOAA station Half Moon Bay, CA — 3 miles away, elevation 26 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 94018

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 26 – Jan 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 26 – Jan 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 28 – Dec 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 16 – Jan 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 16 – Jan 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 12 – Dec 26
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 28 – Dec 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 20 – Mar 6
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 13 – Feb 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 22 – Nov 5
GarlicPlant cloves · Dec 3 – Jan 7
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 6) and first fall frost (Dec 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 94018 came on Jan 23 — 3 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 El Granada, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 94018 is Watsonville — loam, moderately well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.6moderately acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageModerately well drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter2%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Watsonville loam, sloping, eroded.

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 94018; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in El Granada, CA

Summer high66 °Faverage high, August
Winter low43 °Faverage low, January
Hot days1days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights5nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,952base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 45 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 34 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation25.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 59 °F, low 43 °F 59°43° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 43 °F 60°43° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 44 °F 60°44° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 45 °F 61°45° AprMay: average high 62 °F, low 48 °F 62°48° MayJune: average high 64 °F, low 50 °F 64°50° JunJuly: average high 65 °F, low 53 °F 65°53° JulAugust: average high 66 °F, low 54 °F 66°54° AugSeptember: average high 66 °F, low 51 °F 66°51° SepOctober: average high 66 °F, low 48 °F 66°48° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 45 °F 63°45° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 43 °F 59°43° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.16 in precipitation 5.2 JanFebruary: 4.40 in precipitation 4.4 FebMarch: 3.58 in precipitation 3.6 MarApril: 1.62 in precipitation 1.6 AprMay: 0.87 in precipitation 0.9 MayJune: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 JunJuly: 0.08 in precipitation 0.1 JulAugust: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.16 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 1.07 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 2.81 in precipitation 2.8 NovDecember: 5.12 in precipitation 5.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Half Moon Bay, CA (3 mi away); precipitation: Half Moon Bay 0.7 Nw, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 10a.

9403810a
Moss Beach, CA · 2 mi
9403710a
Montara, CA · 3 mi
9401910a
Half Moon Bay, CA · 5 mi
9404410a
Pacifica, CA · 7 mi
9401010a
Burlingame, CA · 7 mi
9403010a
Millbrae, CA · 8 mi
9401110a
Burlingame, CA · 8 mi
9440210a
San Mateo, CA · 8 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 94018

What planting zone is ZIP code 94018?

ZIP code 94018 (El Granada, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 10a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 30 to 35 °F (−1.1 to 1.7 °C).

When is the last frost in El Granada, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 94018 is February 6; after March 25 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Half Moon Bay station.

When is the first frost in El Granada, CA?

The median first fall frost near 94018 is December 17, giving a median frost-free growing season of 328 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 94018?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 12 – Dec 26 and set transplants outside around Feb 13 – Feb 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 94018 get?

About 25.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Half Moon Bay 0.7 Nw station).

How hot do summers get in El Granada, CA?

The average high peaks at 66 °F in August, with about 1 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 94018 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Watsonville at the center of ZIP 94018: loam, moderately well drained, pH about 5.6 (moderately acidic).

Did spring come early in El Granada, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 94018 came on Jan 23 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 26), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in El Granada, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 94018 is 14 h 45 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.