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

Planting zone for 96080 — Red Bluff, CA

ZIP code 96080 (Red Bluff, Tehama County) is in USDA zone 9b: the coldest winter night averages 25 to 30 °F. The median last spring frost is February 22 and the first fall frost November 29.

Where ZIP 96080 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 frostFeb 22
First frostNov 29
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 Red Bluff, 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 Red Bluff, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 22median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 30only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 29median — 10% chance by Nov 12
Growing season281 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 13 and returns around December 15.

From the NOAA station Red Bluff Municipal Airport, CA — 10 miles away, elevation 354 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 96080

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 11 – Feb 1
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 14 – Dec 28
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 1 – Feb 15
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 25 – Feb 8
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 1 – Feb 15
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 28 – Jan 11
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 14 – Dec 28
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 8 – Mar 22
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 1 – Mar 15
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 4 – Oct 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 15 – Dec 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 22) and first fall frost (Nov 29) 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 96080 came on Jan 29 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1).

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 Red Bluff, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96080 is Nacimiento — silty clay loam, well drained.

TextureSilty clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3.5%moderate
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Nacimiento-Newville complex, 10 to 30 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 96080; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Red Bluff, CA

Summer high98 °Faverage high, July
Winter low38 °Faverage low, January
Hot days104days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights19nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,227base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 02 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 18 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation23.1 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 57 °F, low 38 °F 57°38° JanFebruary: average high 61 °F, low 41 °F 61°41° FebMarch: average high 66 °F, low 44 °F 66°44° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 47 °F 72°47° AprMay: average high 82 °F, low 55 °F 82°55° MayJune: average high 91 °F, low 62 °F 91°62° JunJuly: average high 98 °F, low 66 °F 98°66° JulAugust: average high 96 °F, low 64 °F 96°64° AugSeptember: average high 91 °F, low 59 °F 91°59° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 51 °F 79°51° OctNovember: average high 64 °F, low 43 °F 64°43° NovDecember: average high 56 °F, low 38 °F 56°38° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 4.71 in precipitation 4.7 JanFebruary: 4.15 in precipitation 4.2 FebMarch: 2.91 in precipitation 2.9 MarApril: 1.55 in precipitation 1.6 AprMay: 1.25 in precipitation 1.3 MayJune: 0.44 in precipitation 0.4 JunJuly: 0.06 in precipitation 0.1 JulAugust: 0.05 in precipitation 0.1 AugSeptember: 0.19 in precipitation 0.2 SepOctober: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 OctNovember: 2.54 in precipitation 2.5 NovDecember: 4.23 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Red Bluff Municipal Airport, CA (10 mi away); precipitation: Red Bluff Municipal Airport, CA (10 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

960229a
Cottonwood, CA · 12 mi
960789a
Proberta, CA · 15 mi
960299b
Flournoy, CA · 16 mi
960359a
Gerber, CA · 16 mi
960219b
Corning, CA · 19 mi
960909a
Tehama, CA · 20 mi
960079a
Anderson, CA · 21 mi
960749b
Paskenta, CA · 22 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 96080

What planting zone is ZIP code 96080?

ZIP code 96080 (Red Bluff, 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 Red Bluff, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96080 is February 22; after March 30 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Red Bluff Municipal Airport station.

When is the first frost in Red Bluff, CA?

The median first fall frost near 96080 is November 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 281 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96080?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Dec 28 – Jan 11 and set transplants outside around Mar 1 – Mar 15, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 96080 get?

About 23.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Red Bluff Municipal Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Red Bluff, CA?

The average high peaks at 98 °F in July, with about 104 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 96080 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nacimiento at the center of ZIP 96080: silty clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Red Bluff, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 96080 came on Jan 29 in 2026, 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Red Bluff, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 96080 is 15 h 02 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).