Susanville, CA 96128 Frost Dates
When can you plant in Susanville, CA?
The last spring frost here typically falls around 05/21, about 266 days from today. The first fall frost typically arrives around 10/01, about 130 frost-free days later.
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map puts Susanville in Zone 7a (0 to 5°F average annual minimum); frost dates are NOAA's 1991-2020 station normal, not this year's forecast.
What to do before the first frost
About 5 weeks of growing season left in Susanville before the first fall frost — a cold frame or row cover can stretch harvest weeks past that date.
Why 05/21 isn't a guarantee
05/21 is the middle of 30 years of NOAA records, not a promise. Plant by 04/30 and you're betting against frost in roughly 9 years out of 10. 06/11 is the safer bet, historically only a 1-in-10 chance of frost that late.
How Susanville compares
Susanville's growing season runs about 130 days, ranking 38,363 of 40,283 US ZIP codes measured here, longest to shortest. Within CA, it ranks 2,468 of 2,555.
Learn more
local microclimates covers what one yard in Susanville can differ from the 96128 normal. zone vs. frost date covers why Zone 7a and Susanville's frost date answer different questions.