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

Planting zone for 95916 — Berry Creek, CA

ZIP code 95916 (Berry Creek, Butte County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is January 30 and the first fall frost December 13.

Where ZIP 95916 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 30
First frostDec 13
2012 zone9a

Was 9a on the 2012 map — half a zone warmer now. 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 Berry Creek, 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 Berry Creek, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostJanuary 30median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 3only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 13median — 10% chance by Nov 21
Growing season321 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 5 and returns around December 25.

From the NOAA station Oroville, CA — 13 miles away, elevation 171 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 95916

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 19 – Jan 2
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 19 – Jan 9
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 21 – Dec 5
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 9 – Jan 23
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 2 – Jan 16
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 9 – Jan 23
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 5 – Dec 19
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 21 – Dec 5
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 13 – Feb 27
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 18 – Nov 1
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 29 – Jan 3
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Jan 30) and first fall frost (Dec 13) 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 95916 came on Jan 20 — 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7).

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 Berry Creek, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95916 is Lithic Xerorthents — slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rock outcrop-Lithic Xerorthents-Chawanakee , 12 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 95916; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Berry Creek, CA

Summer high97 °Faverage high, July
Winter low40 °Faverage low, January
Hot days97days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights16nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,179base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 59 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 22 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation30.6 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° JanFebruary: average high 62 °F, low 42 °F 62°42° FebMarch: average high 68 °F, low 46 °F 68°46° MarApril: average high 74 °F, low 48 °F 74°48° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 54 °F 82°54° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 59 °F 91°59° JunJuly: average high 97 °F, low 63 °F 97°63° JulAugust: average high 96 °F, low 61 °F 96°61° AugSeptember: average high 90 °F, low 57 °F 90°57° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 51 °F 79°51° OctNovember: average high 66 °F, low 45 °F 66°45° NovDecember: average high 58 °F, low 40 °F 58°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″6″January: 5.79 in precipitation 5.8 JanFebruary: 5.62 in precipitation 5.6 FebMarch: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 MarApril: 2.23 in precipitation 2.2 AprMay: 1.43 in precipitation 1.4 MayJune: 0.59 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 0.01 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.13 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.37 in precipitation 0.4 SepOctober: 1.33 in precipitation 1.3 OctNovember: 2.85 in precipitation 2.9 NovDecember: 5.50 in precipitation 5.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Oroville, CA (13 mi away); precipitation: Oroville, CA (13 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.

959409b
Feather Falls, CA · 6 mi
959419a
Forbestown, CA · 11 mi
959659b
Oroville, CA · 11 mi
959669b
Oroville, CA · 12 mi
959309a
Clipper Mills, CA · 14 mi
959699b
Paradise, CA · 14 mi
959679b
Paradise, CA · 15 mi
959259a
Challenge, CA · 15 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 95916

What planting zone is ZIP code 95916?

ZIP code 95916 (Berry Creek, 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 Berry Creek, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 95916 is January 30; after March 3 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oroville station.

When is the first frost in Berry Creek, CA?

The median first fall frost near 95916 is December 13, giving a median frost-free growing season of 321 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 95916?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 5 – Dec 19 and set transplants outside around Feb 6 – Feb 20, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 95916 get?

About 30.6 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Oroville station).

How hot do summers get in Berry Creek, CA?

The average high peaks at 97 °F in July, with about 97 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 95916 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lithic Xerorthents at the center of ZIP 95916: slightly decomposed plant material, somewhat excessively drained.

Did spring come early in Berry Creek, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 95916 came on Jan 20 in 2026, 18 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Berry Creek, CA?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 95916 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 95916 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 95916 in zone 9a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 9b. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.