North Las Vegas, Nevada: planting zone & frost dates
North Las Vegas is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C). The typical last spring frost is around Feb 11 and the first fall frost around Dec 1.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Feb 24 | Nov 23 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Feb 11 | Dec 1 |
| Median (50%) | Feb 1 | Dec 8 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station N LAS VEGAS, NV (USC00265705), 4.1 mi (6.6 km) from the city center and 213 ft lower than the city center (-65 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 23 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across North Las Vegas
North Las Vegas spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 8 ZIP codes): 9b (56%), 9a (44%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
Vegetable planting calendar for North Las Vegas
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Feb 11, first frost Dec 1). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | — | — |
| Pepper | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Jan 28 – Feb 18 | Jan 14 – Feb 25 | Sep 22 – Oct 20 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Feb 18 – Mar 25 | Sep 8 – Sep 22 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Feb 18 – Mar 18 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Jan 14 – Jan 21 | Feb 18 – Mar 4 | Feb 18 – Mar 11 | Sep 8 – Sep 22 |
| Cucumber | Jan 14 – Jan 21 | Feb 25 – Mar 4 | Feb 18 – Mar 11 | Sep 8 – Sep 22 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 21 – Feb 25 | Sep 8 – Sep 22 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 19 – Dec 3 | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Jan 14 – Feb 4 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | Feb 25 – Mar 18 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 31 – Jan 28 | Oct 6 – Nov 3 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Jan 14 – Feb 4 | Jan 14 – Feb 4 | Sep 22 – Oct 20 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Jan 28 – Feb 18 | — | Sep 8 – Sep 22 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 31 – Jan 21 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Eggplant | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | Feb 25 – Mar 11 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | Jan 14 – Jan 28 | — | Sep 8 – Sep 22 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 7 – Feb 25 | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| Strawberry | — | Jan 14 – Feb 4 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 21 – Mar 4 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
Nearby cities in Nevada
- Las Vegas — zone 9a, last frost Feb 4, first frost Dec 4
- Henderson — zone 9b, last frost Feb 14, first frost Nov 28
- Sparks — zone 7a, last frost May 8, first frost Oct 5
- Reno — zone 7b, last frost May 6, first frost Oct 21
More: all Nevada cities · other zone 9b cities: Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, San Jose, CA, Fresno, CA, Sacramento, CA, Mesa, AZ, Bakersfield, CA
North Las Vegas gardening questions
When is the last frost in North Las Vegas, NV?
Plan around Feb 11. At NOAA's N Las Vegas, NV station, 4.1 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Feb 1, and after Feb 24 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Jan 4. Springs here are erratic: 53 days separate the 90% and 10% dates, versus a median of 36 days for cities on this site, so watch the forecast rather than the calendar.
When should I plant tomatoes in North Las Vegas, NV?
Start seeds indoors Dec 17 – Dec 31 and set transplants outside Feb 18 – Mar 4, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 293 frost-free days, frost is not the main limit — fruit set drops when nights stay above about 75°F, so early plantings tend to do best. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in North Las Vegas?
About 311 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 282 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 341 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 23 and a 30% chance by Dec 1. That ranks 2nd longest of 5 Nevada cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in North Las Vegas?
Count back from the first fall frost (Dec 1): transplant broccoli Sep 8 – Sep 22; sow kale Sep 22 – Oct 20; sow lettuce Sep 22 – Oct 20; sow radishes Oct 20 – Nov 17. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Dec 21. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did North Las Vegas's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
Yes. Most of North Las Vegas was zone 9a on the 2012 map and is zone 9b on the 2023 map — half a zone warmer, like about 56% of U.S. ZIP codes. The shift comes from a newer 1991–2020 averaging period plus more weather stations and better mapping; it does not mean last frost comes earlier. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
Is all of North Las Vegas in zone 9b?
No. Zone 9b covers about 56% of the city's land; the rest is in 9a (44%), measured across the city's 8 ZIP codes. Check your own ZIP code in the table above or with the ZIP lookup.