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

Planting zone for 95471 — Rio Nido, CA

ZIP code 95471 (Rio Nido, Sonoma County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is February 15 and the first fall frost December 2.

Where ZIP 95471 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 15
First frostDec 2
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 Rio Nido, 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 Rio Nido, 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 17only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 2median — 10% chance by Nov 14
Growing season292 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 7 and returns around December 17.

From the NOAA station Healdsburg, CA — 9 miles away, elevation 177 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 95471

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 7 – Oct 21
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 18 – Dec 23
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 15) and first fall frost (Dec 2) 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 95471 came on Jan 20 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (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 Rio Nido, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95471 is Hugo — very gravelly loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.5neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter4%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hugo-Josephine complex, 50 to 75 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 95471; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Rio Nido, CA

Summer high89 °Faverage high, July
Winter low39 °Faverage low, January
Hot days58days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights13nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,988base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 52 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 28 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation42.9 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 39 °F 58°39° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 41 °F 62°41° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 43 °F 66°43° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 45 °F 72°45° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 54 °F 86°54° JunJuly: average high 89 °F, low 54 °F 89°54° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 54 °F 88°54° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 52 °F 85°52° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 49 °F 77°49° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 43 °F 65°43° NovDecember: average high 57 °F, low 39 °F 57°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″January: 8.78 in precipitation 8.8 JanFebruary: 8.08 in precipitation 8.1 FebMarch: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 MarApril: 2.55 in precipitation 2.5 AprMay: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 MayJune: 0.42 in precipitation 0.4 JunJuly: 0.02 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.05 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.19 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 1.96 in precipitation 2.0 OctNovember: 4.29 in precipitation 4.3 NovDecember: 9.58 in precipitation 9.6 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Healdsburg, CA (9 mi away); precipitation: Forestville 0.7 Sw, CA (6 mi away). 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.

954469b
Guerneville, CA · 2 mi
954629b
Monte Rio, CA · 5 mi
954369b
Forestville, CA · 5 mi
954869b
Villa Grande, CA · 5 mi
954309b
Duncans Mills, CA · 6 mi
954199b
Camp Meeker, CA · 8 mi
954489b
Healdsburg, CA · 8 mi
954929a
Windsor, CA · 9 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 95471

What planting zone is ZIP code 95471?

ZIP code 95471 (Rio Nido, 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 Rio Nido, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 95471 is February 15; after March 17 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Healdsburg station.

When is the first frost in Rio Nido, CA?

The median first fall frost near 95471 is December 2, giving a median frost-free growing season of 292 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 95471?

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 95471 get?

About 42.9 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Forestville 0.7 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Rio Nido, CA?

The average high peaks at 89 °F in July, with about 58 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 95471 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hugo at the center of ZIP 95471: very gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 6.5 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Rio Nido, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 95471 came on Jan 20 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Rio Nido, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 95471 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.