Frost dates for ZIP 94305 (Stanford, CA)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Palo Alto, CA (2 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)310 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Fall in zone 9b
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 94305 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring February to March; fall September to October.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: California coastal and valleys. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Mar 19 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Tall fescue (cool-season): Early fall: September (main feeding); Late fall: November, while still green; Late winter: Optional light feeding February–March. Avoid: Feeding after mid-spring and through summer in the transition zone (stress and brown patch).
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 28–Oct 26
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 12–Nov 2
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 2
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 12–Nov 9
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 12–26
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 28–Oct 26
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 7: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Dec 28 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 4 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 20 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 7 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 6 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 11 | Nov 21 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 1 | Dec 7 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 4 | Dec 22 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 94305
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 1) and first fall frost (Dec 7). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 7–21 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 10–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 7–21 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 7–21 | Jan 11–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 4–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 2 (transplant) Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 21–Jan 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 9–23 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 17–Sep 7 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 7–21 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Jan 18–Feb 8 (transplant) Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 4–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 11–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 28–Feb 8 (sow outdoors) | Oct 26–Nov 9 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 4–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 11–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 7–Jan 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 9–23 | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 21–Jan 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 9–23 | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 21–Jan 4 (transplant) | Oct 26–Nov 23 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 17–31 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 22–Mar 8 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 22–Mar 15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 4–11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 4–11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 4–11 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 4–11 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 4–11 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 15–Mar 1 (transplant) Feb 15–Mar 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 9–23 | Feb 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 21–Jan 4 | Feb 8–22 (transplant) Feb 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 18–Feb 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 23–Dec 7 | Jan 18–Feb 1 (transplant) Jan 11–Feb 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 12–26 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 4–18 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Palo Alto, CA (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00046646), elevation 25 ft, 2.4 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodside Fire STN 1, CA | 5 mi | Feb 25 | Nov 25 |
| Redwood City, CA | 5 mi | Jan 17 | Dec 12 |
| Moffett Federal Airfield, CA | 7 mi | Jan 6 | Dec 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 50 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 94305
When is the last frost in 94305?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 94305 is February 1. For a more cautious planting date, use March 4, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 94305?
The average first fall freeze is December 7. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 20.
What hardiness zone is 94305?
ZIP 94305 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 94305 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
94304 Palo Alto 94301 Palo Alto 94306 Palo Alto 94025 Menlo Park 94027 Atherton 94028 Portola Valley 94303 Palo Alto 94022 Los Altos Hills
Other ZIP codes in Santa Clara County
94022 94024 94040 94041 94043 94085 94086 94087 94089 94301 94303 94304 94306 95002 95008 95013 95014 95020 95030 95032 95035 95037 95046 95050 All Santa Clara County frost dates · California frost dates
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