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

Planting zone for 95656 — Mount Aukum, CA

ZIP code 95656 (Mount Aukum, El Dorado County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is March 31 and the first fall frost November 21.

Where ZIP 95656 is

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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostMar 31
First frostNov 21
2012 zone9a

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 9a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Mount Aukum, 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 Mount Aukum, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 31median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 23only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 21median — 10% chance by Nov 1
Growing season237 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 15 and returns around December 5.

From the NOAA station Placerville, CA — 11 miles away, elevation 1,850 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 95656

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 3
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 17 – Mar 10
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 10 – Mar 24
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 3 – Mar 17
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 10 – Mar 24
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 3 – Feb 17
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 20 – Feb 3
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 14 – Apr 28
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 7 – Apr 21
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 26 – Oct 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 7 – Dec 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 31) and first fall frost (Nov 21) 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 95656 came on Jan 29 — 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3).

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 Mount Aukum, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95656 is Hotaw — coarse sandy loam, well drained.

TextureCoarse sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.1slightly acidic; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Hotaw very rocky coarse sandy loam, 15 to 50 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 95656; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Mount Aukum, CA

Summer high94 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days74days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights30nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,181base 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
Precipitation37.5 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 57 °F, low 34 °F 57°34° JanFebruary: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° FebMarch: average high 63 °F, low 40 °F 63°40° MarApril: average high 67 °F, low 42 °F 67°42° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 48 °F 76°48° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 55 °F 86°55° JunJuly: average high 94 °F, low 61 °F 94°61° JulAugust: average high 93 °F, low 59 °F 93°59° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 56 °F 88°56° SepOctober: average high 77 °F, low 48 °F 77°48° OctNovember: average high 65 °F, low 40 °F 65°40° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 34 °F 56°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″January: 6.69 in precipitation 6.7 JanFebruary: 6.39 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 6.4 FebMarch: 6.21 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 6.2 MarApril: 3.22 in precipitation 3.2 AprMay: 2.11 in precipitation 2.1 MayJune: 0.45 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 0.00 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.06 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.30 in precipitation 0.3 SepOctober: 2.10 in precipitation 2.1 OctNovember: 3.58 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 3.6 NovDecember: 6.43 in precipitation 6.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Placerville, CA (11 mi away); precipitation: Fiddletown Dexter Rch, 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.

956759a
River Pines, CA · <1 mi
956299a
Fiddletown, CA · 3 mi
956859a
Sutter Creek, CA · 8 mi
956899a
Volcano, CA · 8 mi
956239b
El Dorado, CA · 8 mi
956699b
Plymouth, CA · 10 mi
956199b
Diamond Springs, CA · 10 mi
956019b
Amador City, CA · 10 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 95656

What planting zone is ZIP code 95656?

ZIP code 95656 (Mount Aukum, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 20 to 25 °F (−6.7 to −3.9 °C).

When is the last frost in Mount Aukum, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 95656 is March 31; after April 23 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Placerville station.

When is the first frost in Mount Aukum, CA?

The median first fall frost near 95656 is November 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 237 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 95656?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 3 – Feb 17 and set transplants outside around Apr 7 – Apr 21, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 95656 get?

About 37.5 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Fiddletown Dexter Rch station).

How hot do summers get in Mount Aukum, CA?

The average high peaks at 94 °F in July, with about 74 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 95656 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Hotaw at the center of ZIP 95656: coarse sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.1 (slightly acidic).

Did spring come early in Mount Aukum, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 95656 came on Jan 29 in 2026, 5 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 3), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Mount Aukum, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 95656 is 14 h 52 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.