Phoenix, Arizona: planting zone & frost dates
Phoenix 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 Jan 23 and the first fall frost around Dec 15.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Feb 12 | Dec 5 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Jan 23 | Dec 15 |
| Median (50%) | Jan 8 | Dec 25 |
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 PHOENIX DEER VALLEY MUNI AP, AZ (USW00003184), 8.0 mi (12.9 km) from the city center and 213 ft higher than the city center (+65 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 21 years.
Hardiness zone across Phoenix
Phoenix spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 49 ZIP codes): 9b (56%), 10a (44%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
ZIP codes in Phoenix and their zones
| ZIP | Zone | Share of city land |
|---|---|---|
| 85085 | 9b | 6.7% |
| 85086 | 9b | 5.7% |
| 85339 | 9b | 4.3% |
| 85042 | 10a | 3.8% |
| 85083 | 9b | 3.8% |
| 85043 | 9b | 3.4% |
| 85087 | 9b | 3.4% |
| 85044 | 10a | 3.2% |
| 85018 | 10a | 2.9% |
| 85050 | 10a | 2.9% |
| 85009 | 10a | 2.8% |
| 85041 | 10a | 2.7% |
| 85331 | 9b | 2.6% |
| 85032 | 9b | 2.4% |
| 85027 | 10a | 2.3% |
| 85254 | 10a | 2.3% |
| 85024 | 10a | 2.2% |
| 85034 | 10a | 2.2% |
| 85008 | 10a | 2.0% |
| 85040 | 10a | 2.0% |
| 85048 | 9b | 1.9% |
| 85022 | 9b | 1.8% |
| 85029 | 9b | 1.8% |
| 85020 | 10a | 1.7% |
| 85054 | 9b | 1.7% |
| 85353 | 9b | 1.7% |
| 85016 | 10a | 1.6% |
| 85037 | 9b | 1.5% |
| 85023 | 9b | 1.4% |
| 85310 | 10a | 1.4% |
| 85021 | 9b | 1.3% |
| 85028 | 10a | 1.3% |
| 85033 | 9b | 1.2% |
| 85051 | 9b | 1.2% |
| 85035 | 9b | 1.1% |
| 85017 | 9b | 1.0% |
| 85053 | 9b | 1.0% |
| 85007 | 10a | 0.9% |
| 85015 | 9b | 0.9% |
| 85006 | 10a | 0.8% |
| 85014 | 10a | 0.8% |
| 85031 | 9b | 0.8% |
| 85045 | 10a | 0.8% |
| 85013 | 9b | 0.7% |
| 85019 | 9b | 0.7% |
| 85003 | 10a | 0.4% |
| 85004 | 10a | 0.4% |
| 85012 | 10a | 0.4% |
| 85026 | 10a | 0.0% |
Vegetable planting calendar for Phoenix
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Jan 23, first frost Dec 15). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | — | — |
| Pepper | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Jan 9 – Jan 30 | Dec 26 – Feb 6 | Oct 6 – Nov 3 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Jan 30 – Mar 6 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Jan 30 – Feb 27 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Dec 26 – Jan 2 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Jan 30 – Feb 20 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Cucumber | Dec 26 – Jan 2 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | Jan 30 – Feb 20 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 2 – Feb 6 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | — | — |
| Basil | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Feb 6 – Feb 27 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 12 – Jan 9 | Oct 20 – Nov 17 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | Oct 6 – Nov 3 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Jan 9 – Jan 30 | — | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 12 – Jan 2 | Oct 6 – Oct 20 |
| Eggplant | Nov 14 – Nov 28 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 28 – Dec 12 | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | — | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Dec 19 – Feb 6 | Nov 3 – Dec 1 |
| Strawberry | — | Dec 26 – Jan 16 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 2 – Feb 13 | Oct 6 – Oct 20 |
Nearby cities in Arizona
- Glendale — zone 9b, last frost Feb 2, first frost Dec 8
- Tempe — zone 9b, last frost Feb 24, first frost Nov 29
- Scottsdale — zone 10a, last frost Feb 13, first frost Dec 11
- Avondale — zone 9b, last frost Jan 18, first frost Dec 16
- Peoria — zone 9b, last frost Feb 16, first frost Dec 2
- Chandler — zone 9b, last frost Feb 24, first frost Nov 29
More: all Arizona cities · other zone 9b cities: Houston, TX, Jacksonville, FL, San Jose, CA, Fresno, CA, Sacramento, CA, Mesa, AZ, Bakersfield, CA, New Orleans, LA