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

Planting zone for 96114 — Janesville, CA

ZIP code 96114 (Janesville, Lassen County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 16 and the first fall frost October 8.

Where ZIP 96114 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostMay 16
First frostOct 8
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Janesville, 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 Janesville, CA

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 5only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 8median — 10% chance by Sep 25
Growing season143 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 26 and returns around October 21.

From the NOAA station Susanville 2sw, CA — 12 miles away, elevation 4,213 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 96114

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 18
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 4 – Apr 25
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 25 – May 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 18 – May 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 25 – May 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 21 – Apr 4
TomatoesTransplant · May 23 – Jun 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 7 – Mar 21
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 30 – Jun 13
BeansSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 23 – Jun 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 13 – Aug 27
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 24 – Oct 29
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 16) and first fall frost (Oct 8) 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 96114 came on Mar 10 — 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20).

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 Janesville, CA

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 96114 is Calpine — sandy loam, well drained.

TextureSandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH6.7neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter5%high
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Calpine sandy loam, 0 to 2 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 96114; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Janesville, CA

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days31days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights149nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,376base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day15 h 03 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)
Precipitation24.4 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 43 °F, low 22 °F 43°22° JanFebruary: average high 48 °F, low 26 °F 48°26° FebMarch: average high 54 °F, low 30 °F 54°30° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 34 °F 61°34° AprMay: average high 69 °F, low 40 °F 69°40° MayJune: average high 79 °F, low 47 °F 79°47° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 53 °F 88°53° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 52 °F 87°52° AugSeptember: average high 80 °F, low 45 °F 80°45° SepOctober: average high 67 °F, low 36 °F 67°36° OctNovember: average high 52 °F, low 28 °F 52°28° NovDecember: average high 43 °F, low 22 °F 43°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″5″January: 3.80 in precipitation 3.8 JanFebruary: 4.32 in precipitation 4.3 FebMarch: 3.42 in precipitation 3.4 MarApril: 1.32 in precipitation 1.3 AprMay: 1.93 in precipitation 1.9 MayJune: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 JunJuly: 0.20 in precipitation 0.2 JulAugust: 0.21 in precipitation 0.2 AugSeptember: 0.36 in precipitation 0.4 SepOctober: 1.55 in precipitation 1.6 OctNovember: 2.33 in precipitation 2.3 NovDecember: 4.24 in precipitation 4.2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Susanville 2sw, CA (12 mi away); precipitation: Susanville 3.5 Ssw, CA (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

961287a
Standish, CA · 6 mi
961217a
Milford, CA · 11 mi
961277a
Susanville, CA · 12 mi
961307a
Susanville, CA · 19 mi
961137a
Herlong, CA · 19 mi
959477b
Greenville, CA · 21 mi
959837b
Taylorsville, CA · 21 mi
961176b
Litchfield, CA · 21 mi

California planting zones →

Questions about 96114

What planting zone is ZIP code 96114?

ZIP code 96114 (Janesville, CA) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Janesville, CA?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 96114 is May 16; after June 5 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Susanville 2sw station.

When is the first frost in Janesville, CA?

The median first fall frost near 96114 is October 8, giving a median frost-free growing season of 143 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 96114?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 21 – Apr 4 and set transplants outside around May 23 – Jun 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 96114 get?

About 24.4 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Susanville 3.5 Ssw station).

How hot do summers get in Janesville, CA?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 31 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 96114 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Calpine at the center of ZIP 96114: sandy loam, well drained, pH about 6.7 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Janesville, CA in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 96114 came on Mar 10 in 2026, 10 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 20), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Janesville, CA?

Long-day onions: the longest day near 96114 is 15 h 03 min, so summer days reach 15+ hours, enough for long-day varieties (intermediate types work too).