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

Planting zone for 95538 — Fort Dick, CA

ZIP code 95538 (Fort Dick, Del Norte County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is March 11 and the first fall frost November 23.

Where ZIP 95538 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 frostMar 11
First frostNov 23
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 Fort Dick, 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 Fort Dick, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 11median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 23median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season256 daysfrost-free, median

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

From the NOAA station Crescent City 3 Nnw, CA — 6 miles away, elevation 43 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 95538

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 18
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 18 – Mar 4
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 11 – Feb 25
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 18 – Mar 4
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 25 – Apr 8
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 18 – Apr 1
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 28 – Oct 12
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 9 – Dec 14
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 11) and first fall frost (Nov 23) 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 95538 came on Jan 30 — about the same time as 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 Fort Dick, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95538 is Tsunami — loam, well drained.

TextureLoama good balance for most vegetables
pH5.2strongly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Tsunami, 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 95538; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Dick, CA

Summer high66 °Faverage high, August
Winter low39 °Faverage low, December
Hot days0days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights17nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days1,363base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 08 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation73.7 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°32 °FJanuary: average high 54 °F, low 40 °F 54°40° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 40 °F 55°40° FebMarch: average high 56 °F, low 41 °F 56°41° MarApril: average high 58 °F, low 43 °F 58°43° AprMay: average high 61 °F, low 46 °F 61°46° MayJune: average high 63 °F, low 48 °F 63°48° JunJuly: average high 65 °F, low 51 °F 65°51° JulAugust: average high 66 °F, low 52 °F 66°52° AugSeptember: average high 66 °F, low 48 °F 66°48° SepOctober: average high 62 °F, low 46 °F 62°46° OctNovember: average high 57 °F, low 42 °F 57°42° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 39 °F 53°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″14″January: 11.91 in precipitation 11.9 JanFebruary: 9.13 in precipitation 9.1 FebMarch: 10.01 in precipitation 10.0 MarApril: 6.49 in precipitation 6.5 AprMay: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 MayJune: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 JunJuly: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 JulAugust: 0.38 in precipitation 0.4 AugSeptember: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 SepOctober: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 OctNovember: 10.22 in precipitation 10.2 NovDecember: 14.50 in precipitation 14.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Crescent City 3 Nnw, CA (6 mi away); precipitation: Crescent City 5.5 Nne, CA (3 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

955319b
Crescent City, CA · 1 mi
955679b
Smith River, CA · 6 mi
955329b
Crescent City, CA · 8 mi
955438a
Gasquet, CA · 18 mi
974159b
Brookings, OR · 19 mi
955489b
Klamath, CA · 20 mi
975348b
O Brien, OR · 26 mi
975238b
Cave Junction, OR · 31 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 95538

What planting zone is ZIP code 95538?

ZIP code 95538 (Fort Dick, 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 Fort Dick, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 95538 is March 11; after April 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crescent City 3 Nnw station.

When is the first frost in Fort Dick, CA?

The median first fall frost near 95538 is November 23, giving a median frost-free growing season of 256 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 95538?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 14 – Jan 28 and set transplants outside around Mar 18 – Apr 1, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 95538 get?

About 73.7 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Crescent City 5.5 Nne station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Dick, CA?

The average high peaks at 66 °F in August, with about 0 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 95538 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Tsunami at the center of ZIP 95538: loam, well drained, pH about 5.2 (strongly acidic).

Did spring come early in Fort Dick, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 95538 came on Jan 30 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Jan 30), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Dick, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 95538 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).