When to Plant in Phoenix, AZ: Planting Calendar
Quick answer
Frost is rare in Phoenix (32°F in about 1 year in 5 or 6 at the nearest NOAA station), so plant by season instead of frost dates: use the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension planting dates for the Phoenix-area low desert (Maricopa County) in the table below.
Frost is rare in Phoenix. At the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (NOAA name: Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport, AZ) station, 4.1 miles from the center of ZIP 85004, a 32°F night happens in about 1 year in 5 or 6 (NOAA 1991–2020), so there is no reliable frost date to count from. Instead, our planner uses the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension planting dates for the Phoenix-area low desert (Maricopa County). ZIP 85004 is in USDA hardiness zone 10a. Across all 1,265 zone 10 ZIP codes, 70% are frost-rare like this one.
Station and frost odds: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, for the station nearest the center of ZIP 85004. Zone: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map (PRISM data by ZIP code).
Next 30 days in Phoenix
See what to plant this month in the planner for ZIP 85004.
Growing in Phoenix’s desert climate
The planting table below is from the University of Arizona’s Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005). Its opening notes explain the timing: “We have two optimal growing and planting seasons: one in the spring, the other in the fall.”
- Check soil temperature: “Use a soil thermometer to check for optimal soil temperatures to be in a range of 65° to 85°F for many of the commonly grown vegetables.”
- Time plantings around pests: “For example, delay fall planting until whitefly populations decline with cooler temperatures; delay spring planting until soils become warm and dry to reduce fungal and bacterial disease.”
- Heat and the odd hard frost: “High temperatures, both day and night for extended periods of time, low humidity, and the high solar intensity can put tremendous stress on plants. In addition, some plants may not survive freezing temperatures if there is a hard winter frost.”
- Choose fast varieties: “it is important to choose crop varieties that mature quickly to ensure a full life cycle within one season.”
Time to harvest, from the AZ1005 chart (T = transplant, S = seed):
| Crop | Time to harvest (UA Maricopa County) |
|---|---|
| Beets | 60-80 days |
| Bok Choy | 45 days |
| Broccoli | T=90-100 S=120-130 days |
| Carrots | 60-100 days |
| Collard Greens | 80 days |
Sources: University of Arizona AZ1005, Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County.
Phoenix planting dates
This is the same table the planner shows for ZIP 85004.
| Crop | Type | Planting dates | Expected harvest (estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PeasSep plantings 60–120 days, Nov plantings 120–150 days | Seed | Sep 15 – Feb 15 | Nov 14 – Jul 1560–150 days from planting |
| Spinach | Seed | Sep 1 – Feb 15 | Oct 1 – May 1630–90 days from planting |
| LettuceLeaf lettuce (head lettuce: seed or transplant to Jan 15, transplant Feb 1; 50–100 days) | Seed | Aug 15 – Sep 1 | Sep 14 – Nov 3030–90 days from planting |
| LettuceLeaf lettuce (head lettuce: seed or transplant to Jan 15, transplant Feb 1; 50–100 days) | Seed or transplant | Sep 15 – Feb 1 | Oct 15 – May 230–90 days from planting |
| LettuceLeaf lettuce (head lettuce: seed or transplant to Jan 15, transplant Feb 1; 50–100 days) | Transplant | Feb 15 | Mar 17 – May 1630–90 days from planting |
| OnionsBulb onions: seed 7–8 months, sets 4–5 months | Seed | Oct 1 – Nov 15 | May 1 – Jul 157–8 months from planting |
| OnionsBulb onions: seed 7–8 months, sets 4–5 months | Sets or cloves | Dec 1 – Feb 1 | Apr 1 – Jul 14–5 months from planting |
| Potatoes | Seed | Jan 1 – Mar 1 | Apr 1 – Jun 2990–120 days from planting |
| BroccoliSeed 120–130 days, transplants 90–100 days | Seed | Aug 15 – Sep 1 | Dec 13 – Jan 9120–130 days from planting |
| BroccoliSeed 120–130 days, transplants 90–100 days | Seed or transplant | Sep 15 – Jan 1 | Dec 14 – May 1190–130 days from planting |
| BroccoliSeed 120–130 days, transplants 90–100 days | Transplant | Jan 15 | Apr 15 – Apr 2590–100 days from planting |
| CabbageSeed 120–130 days, transplants 80–90 days | Seed | Aug 15 – Sep 1 | Dec 13 – Jan 9120–130 days from planting |
| CabbageSeed 120–130 days, transplants 80–90 days | Seed or transplant | Sep 15 – Jan 1 | Dec 4 – May 1180–130 days from planting |
| CabbageSeed 120–130 days, transplants 80–90 days | Transplant | Jan 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 1580–90 days from planting |
| Kale | Seed | Aug 15 – Dec 15 | Oct 14 – Mar 1560–90 days from planting |
| Radishes | Seed | Sep 1 – Apr 15 | Oct 1 – Jun 1430–60 days from planting |
| Tomatoes | Transplant | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | Apr 6 – Jul 1350–120 days from planting |
| Tomatoes | Transplant | Jul 15 – Aug 1 | Sep 3 – Nov 2950–120 days from planting |
| Peppers | Transplant | Feb 15 – Mar 15 | May 16 – Jul 1390–120 days from planting |
| Peppers | Transplant | Jul 1 – Jul 15 | Sep 29 – Nov 1290–120 days from planting |
| Eggplant | Transplant | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | May 10 – Jul 1370–120 days from planting |
| Beans (bush & pole)Snap beans | Seed | Mar 15 – Apr 15 | May 14 – Jul 1460–90 days from planting |
| Beans (bush & pole)Snap beans | Seed | Jul 15 – Sep 1 | Sep 13 – Nov 3060–90 days from planting |
| Sweet corn | Seed | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Apr 26 – Jun 3070–90 days from planting |
| Sweet corn | Seed | Jul 15 – Aug 15 | Sep 23 – Nov 1370–90 days from planting |
| Cucumbers | Seed | Feb 15 – Apr 15 | Apr 16 – Jul 1460–90 days from planting |
| Cucumbers | Seed | Aug 15 – Sep 15 | Oct 14 – Dec 1460–90 days from planting |
| SquashSummer squash | Seed | Feb 15 – Apr 1 | Apr 16 – Jun 3060–90 days from planting |
| SquashSummer squash | Seed | Aug 15 – Sep 1 | Oct 14 – Nov 3060–90 days from planting |
| Pumpkins | Seed | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | May 30 – Jul 1390–120 days from planting |
| Pumpkins | Seed | Jul 1 – Aug 1 | Sep 29 – Nov 2990–120 days from planting |
| BasilSeed 60–75 days, transplants 30 days | Seed | Feb 15 | Apr 16 – May 160–75 days from planting |
| BasilSeed 60–75 days, transplants 30 days | Seed or transplant | Mar 1 – May 15 | Mar 31 – Jul 2930–75 days from planting |
| Garlic | Sets or cloves | Oct 1 – Oct 15 | Mar 1 – May 155–7 months from planting |
Source: University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, AZ1005, Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (rev. 2018). Days to harvest: AZ1005 “Time to Harvest” column. Harvest windows add those days to the planting dates and vary with variety and weather. Not in this table: Marigolds, Zinnias, Tulips, Daffodils.
Frost across Phoenix’s ZIP codes
All 44 of Phoenix’s ZIP codes are frost-rare in the planner, so they all use the same season-based table.
| Nearest NOAA station | Last spring frost | First fall frost | Phoenix ZIP codes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (NOAA name: Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl Airport, AZ) | Frost rare | Frost rare | 15: 85003, 85004, 85006, 85008, 85012, 85013, 85014, 85015, 85016, 85017, 85018, 85019, 85026, 85034, 85040 |
| Phoenix Deer Valley Municipal Airport (NOAA name: Phoenix Deer Valley Muni Airport, AZ) | Frost rare | Frost rare | 13: 85020, 85021, 85022, 85023, 85024, 85027, 85029, 85050, 85051, 85053, 85083, 85085, 85310 |
| South Phoenix | Frost rare | Frost rare | 8: 85007, 85009, 85031, 85035, 85041, 85042, 85044, 85048 |
| Scottsdale Municipal Airport (NOAA name: Scottsdale Muni Airport, AZ) | Frost rare | Frost rare | 4: 85028, 85032, 85054, 85254 |
| Laveen 3 Sse | Frost rare | Frost rare | 2: 85043, 85045 |
| Litchfield Park | Frost rare | Frost rare | 2: 85033, 85037 |
Which ZIP codes count as Phoenix: the 44 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas (2020 ZCTAs) with at least half of their land area inside Phoenix city limits, from the U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 ZCTA to Place Relationship File. ZCTAs are the Census Bureau’s approximations of USPS ZIP Code areas, so this list may not match every USPS ZIP code. Each ZIP code’s dates are the ones our planner shows for it.
More for Phoenix gardeners
- Your own ZIP: open the planner for ZIP 85004 and change the ZIP to yours for its own station and dates.
- Arizona: When to plant in Arizona, with frost dates across the state.
- USDA zone 10a: our zone 10 planting guide.
- Frost tonight? How to protect plants from frost.
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Frequently asked questions
Does Phoenix get frost?
Rarely. At the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport station, 4.1 miles from ZIP 85004, a 32°F night happens in about 1 year in 5 or 6 (NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals), so frost-based planting dates don’t apply.
When should I plant vegetables in Phoenix?
Use planting dates written for the area: the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension planting dates for the Phoenix-area low desert (Maricopa County) in the table on this page. They are by season, not by frost date.
What USDA zone is Phoenix in?
ZIP 85004 in Phoenix is in USDA hardiness zone 10a on the 2023 USDA map (by ZIP code, via PRISM).
Sources
- NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information: U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020
- USDA Agricultural Research Service, Plant Hardiness Zone Map: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
- University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: University of Arizona AZ1005, Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County
- U.S. Census Bureau: 2020 ZCTA to Place Relationship File