Planting zone for 95981 — Strawberry Valley, CA
ZIP code 95981 (Strawberry Valley, Yuba County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 4 and the first fall frost October 30.
Where ZIP 95981 is
Outlined: the ZIP code area · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoomNot 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.
Was 8b on the 2012 map — half a zone colder now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8a means →
Frost forecast — next 7 nights
live from the National Weather ServiceLoading the forecast for Strawberry Valley, 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 Strawberry Valley, CA
A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 15 and returns around November 16.
From the NOAA station Strawberry Valley, CA — 7 miles away, elevation 3,809 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 95981
Counted from the median last spring frost (May 4) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 95981 came on Feb 14 — 27 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13).
Mar 132026
Feb 14
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 Strawberry Valley, CA
The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 95981 is Hurlbut family — gravelly loam, well drained.
Map unit: Hurlbut family, 10 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 95981; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.
Climate in Strawberry Valley, CA
Average high and low, by month
Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Strawberry Valley, CA (7 mi away); precipitation: Strawberry Valley, CA (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.
Nearby ZIP codes
7 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.
Questions about 95981
What planting zone is ZIP code 95981?
ZIP code 95981 (Strawberry Valley, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).
When is the last frost in Strawberry Valley, CA?
The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 95981 is May 4; after May 31 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Strawberry Valley station.
When is the first frost in Strawberry Valley, CA?
The median first fall frost near 95981 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 174 days.
When should I plant tomatoes in 95981?
Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 9 – Mar 23 and set transplants outside around May 11 – May 25, one to three weeks after the median last frost.
How much rain and snow does 95981 get?
About 82.5 inches of precipitation a year and 82 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Strawberry Valley station).
How hot do summers get in Strawberry Valley, CA?
The average high peaks at 85 °F in July, with about 15 days a year at 90 °F or more.
What kind of soil does 95981 have?
The USDA soil survey maps Hurlbut family at the center of ZIP 95981: gravelly loam, well drained, pH about 6.3 (slightly acidic).
Did spring come early in Strawberry Valley, CA in 2026?
Spring leaf-out near 95981 came on Feb 14 in 2026, 27 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 13), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.
What kind of onions grow in Strawberry Valley, CA?
Intermediate onions: the longest day near 95981 is 14 h 59 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.
Did the zone for 95981 change?
Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 95981 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.