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

Planting zone for 96112 — Fort Bidwell, CA

ZIP code 96112 (Fort Bidwell, Modoc County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 26 and the first fall frost October 1.

Where ZIP 96112 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 26
First frostOct 1
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fort Bidwell, 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 Fort Bidwell, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 26median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 13only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 1median — 10% chance by Sep 12
Growing season127 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 3 and returns around October 14.

From the NOAA station Ft Bidwell, CA — 2 miles away, elevation 4,738 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 96112

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 14 – Apr 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 14 – May 5
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 5 – May 19
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 5 – May 19
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 28 – May 12
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 5 – May 19
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 31 – Apr 14
TomatoesTransplant · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 17 – Mar 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 9 – Jun 23
BeansSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Jun 2 – Jun 16
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 6 – Aug 20
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 17 – Oct 22
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 26) and first fall frost (Oct 1) 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 96112 came on Mar 20 — 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8).

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 Fort Bidwell, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96112 is Crazybird — very gravelly ashy sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly ashy sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Crazybird-Warnermount association.

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 96112; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Bidwell, CA

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, December
Hot days20days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights149nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,130base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 07 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growLong-daysummer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too)
Precipitation17.5 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall56 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 23 °F 40°23° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 26 °F 44°26° FebMarch: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° MarApril: average high 57 °F, low 33 °F 57°33° AprMay: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° MayJune: average high 75 °F, low 46 °F 75°46° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 54 °F 86°54° JulAugust: average high 85 °F, low 51 °F 85°51° AugSeptember: average high 77 °F, low 45 °F 77°45° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 36 °F 64°36° OctNovember: average high 48 °F, low 29 °F 48°29° NovDecember: average high 38 °F, low 22 °F 38°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 2.71 in precipitation, 15.1 in snowfall 2.7❄15 JanFebruary: 1.87 in precipitation, 11 in snowfall 1.9❄11 FebMarch: 2.11 in precipitation, 6.2 in snowfall 2.1❄6 MarApril: 1.79 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 1.8❄3 AprMay: 1.47 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 1.5❄1 MayJune: 0.79 in precipitation 0.8 JunJuly: 0.20 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 AugSeptember: 0.29 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.3 SepOctober: 1.06 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.1 OctNovember: 2.07 in precipitation, 6.5 in snowfall 2.1❄7 NovDecember: 2.86 in precipitation, 12.9 in snowfall 2.9❄13 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Bidwell, CA (2 mi away); precipitation: Ft Bidwell, CA (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

All 8 nearest ZIP codes share zone 6b.

976356b
New Pine Creek, OR · 7 mi
961086b
Davis Creek, CA · 14 mi
961156b
Lake City, CA · 15 mi
976206b
Adel, OR · 30 mi
961046b
Cedarville, CA · 30 mi
976306b
Lakeview, OR · 31 mi
961016b
Alturas, CA · 35 mi
976376b
Plush, OR · 42 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 96112

What planting zone is ZIP code 96112?

ZIP code 96112 (Fort Bidwell, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Fort Bidwell, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96112 is May 26; after June 13 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Bidwell station.

When is the first frost in Fort Bidwell, CA?

The median first fall frost near 96112 is October 1, giving a median frost-free growing season of 127 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96112?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 31 – Apr 14 and set transplants outside around Jun 2 – Jun 16, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 96112 get?

About 17.5 inches of precipitation a year and 56 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Bidwell station).

How hot do summers get in Fort Bidwell, CA?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 20 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 96112 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Crazybird at the center of ZIP 96112: very gravelly ashy sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Fort Bidwell, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 96112 came on Mar 20 in 2026, 19 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Apr 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Bidwell, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 96112 is 15 h 14 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).