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

Planting zone for 96090 — Tehama, CA

ZIP code 96090 (Tehama, Tehama County) is in USDA zone 9a: the coldest winter night averages 20 to 25 °F. The median last spring frost is February 22 and the first fall frost November 29.

Where ZIP 96090 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
Coldest night−6.7 to −3.9 °C
Last frostFeb 22
First frostNov 29
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 Tehama, 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 Tehama, 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 — 12 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 96090

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 96090 came on Jan 31 — about the same time as 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 Tehama, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96090 is Columbia — silt loam, well drained.

TextureSilt loama good balance for most vegetables
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Columbia silt loam, 0 to 3 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 96090; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tehama, 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 01 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 19 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation25.1 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″6″January: 5.56 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 5.6 JanFebruary: 4.79 in precipitation 4.8 FebMarch: 3.03 in precipitation 3.0 MarApril: 1.60 in precipitation 1.6 AprMay: 1.56 in precipitation 1.6 MayJune: 0.60 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 0.09 in precipitation 0.1 JulAugust: 0.04 in precipitation 0.0 AugSeptember: 0.07 in precipitation 0.1 SepOctober: 1.01 in precipitation 1.0 OctNovember: 2.33 in precipitation 2.3 NovDecember: 4.37 in precipitation 4.4 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Red Bluff Municipal Airport, CA (12 mi away); precipitation: Red Bluff Trtmt Plt, CA (12 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.

960359a
Gerber, CA · 4 mi
960789a
Proberta, CA · 6 mi
960929b
Vina, CA · 8 mi
960559b
Los Molinos, CA · 9 mi
960219b
Corning, CA · 10 mi
959739b
Chico, CA · 16 mi
959279a
Chico, CA · 17 mi
960299b
Flournoy, CA · 20 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 96090

What planting zone is ZIP code 96090?

ZIP code 96090 (Tehama, 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 Tehama, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96090 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 Tehama, CA?

The median first fall frost near 96090 is November 29, giving a median frost-free growing season of 281 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96090?

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 96090 get?

About 25.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Red Bluff Trtmt Plt station).

How hot do summers get in Tehama, 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 96090 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Columbia at the center of ZIP 96090: silt loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Tehama, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 96090 came on Jan 31 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 1), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tehama, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 96090 is 15 h 01 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).