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

Planting zone for 95978 — Stirling City, CA

ZIP code 95978 (Stirling City, Butte County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is April 17 and the first fall frost November 11.

Where ZIP 95978 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostApr 17
First frostNov 11
2012 zone8b

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 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Stirling City, 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 Stirling City, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 17median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 11median — 10% chance by Oct 21
Growing season206 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 20 and returns around November 27.

From the NOAA station De Sabla, CA — 5 miles away, elevation 2,710 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 95978

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 20
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 6 – Mar 27
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 27 – Apr 10
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 20 – Apr 3
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 27 – Apr 10
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 20 – Mar 6
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 24 – May 8
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 6 – Feb 20
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 1 – May 15
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 24 – May 8
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 16 – Sep 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 28 – Dec 2
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 17) and first fall frost (Nov 11) 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 95978 came on Feb 4 — 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18).

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 Stirling City, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95978 is Paradiso — slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

TextureSlightly decomposed plant materialtop layer
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Paradiso loam, 2 to 15 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 95978; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Stirling City, CA

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low34 °Faverage low, December
Hot days65days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights63nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,588base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 00 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 20 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation66 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 53 °F, low 35 °F 53°35° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 35 °F 55°35° FebMarch: average high 60 °F, low 37 °F 60°37° MarApril: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° AprMay: average high 74 °F, low 47 °F 74°47° MayJune: average high 84 °F, low 53 °F 84°53° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 58 °F 91°58° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 57 °F 91°57° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 53 °F 86°53° SepOctober: average high 74 °F, low 46 °F 74°46° OctNovember: average high 59 °F, low 38 °F 59°38° NovDecember: average high 51 °F, low 34 °F 51°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″2″4″6″8″10″12″January: 11.88 in precipitation 11.9 JanFebruary: 11.75 in precipitation 11.8 FebMarch: 9.62 in precipitation 9.6 MarApril: 5.22 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 5.2 AprMay: 3.10 in precipitation 3.1 MayJune: 1.01 in precipitation 1.0 JunJuly: 0.03 in precipitation 0.0 JulAugust: 0.14 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.41 in precipitation 0.4 SepOctober: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 OctNovember: 6.41 in precipitation 6.4 NovDecember: 12.97 in precipitation 13.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: De Sabla, CA (5 mi away); precipitation: De Sabla, CA (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

959548b
Magalia, CA · 5 mi
959429a
Forest Ranch, CA · 7 mi
959808b
Storrie, CA · 11 mi
959699b
Paradise, CA · 14 mi
959679b
Paradise, CA · 15 mi
959739b
Chico, CA · 18 mi
959169b
Berry Creek, CA · 19 mi
959769a
Chico, CA · 20 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 95978

What planting zone is ZIP code 95978?

ZIP code 95978 (Stirling City, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Stirling City, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 95978 is April 17; after May 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, De Sabla station.

When is the first frost in Stirling City, CA?

The median first fall frost near 95978 is November 11, giving a median frost-free growing season of 206 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 95978?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 20 – Mar 6 and set transplants outside around Apr 24 – May 8, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 95978 get?

About 66 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, De Sabla station).

How hot do summers get in Stirling City, CA?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 65 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 95978 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Paradiso at the center of ZIP 95978: slightly decomposed plant material, well drained.

Did spring come early in Stirling City, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 95978 came on Feb 4 in 2026, 14 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 18), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Stirling City, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 95978 is 15 h 00 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).