Frost dates & planting calendar for Tucson, AZ
Frost dates
Feb 5
Last spring frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, the last frost comes later.
Safer date: Mar 2. Only 1 freeze year in 10 has a frost after this.
Dec 9
First fall frost, typical
In half of the years that freeze, it comes earlier.
Early date: Nov 21. Only 1 freeze year in 10 freezes before this.
307
Days, typical frost-free season
From NOAA’s 1991–2020 climate normals for this station.
9b
USDA hardiness zone
Coldest night of the winter, averaged over 1991–2020: 25 to 30°F (−3.9 to −1.1°C).
Zone for ZIP 85708, the ZIP nearest the city center; zones can vary within a city. What zone 9b means.
What to plant right now
As of Nov 9, 2026
Typical frost-free season: 307 days. Station: Tucson International Airport, AZ, 8 km away. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 (32°F threshold).
Hardiness zones: 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, PRISM Group, Oregon State University, https://prism.oregonstate.edu, accessed 9 Nov 2026.
Can I plant tomatoes now?
Not yet. Start tomato seeds indoors from Jan 5 to Jan 19, then plant them out from Mar 2 to Mar 16.
Planting calendar
Windows are counted from the safer dates (Mar 2 in spring, Nov 21 in fall). Going by the typical dates instead gains you about 4 weeks in spring, with more risk.
January
The next window opens in January.
Tomatotender
Next: start indoors from Jan 5
- Start indoors
- Jan 5 – Jan 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 16
Eggplanttender
Next: start indoors from Jan 5
- Start indoors
- Jan 5 – Jan 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 16
Broccolihardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 5
- Start indoors
- Jan 5 – Jan 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 2 – Mar 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
- Sow for fall
- Aug 29 – Sep 12
Cabbagehardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 5
- Start indoors
- Jan 5 – Jan 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 2 – Mar 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
- Sow for fall
- Aug 29 – Sep 12
Cauliflowerhalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 5
- Start indoors
- Jan 5 – Jan 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 16 – Mar 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 9 – Mar 2
- Sow for fall
- Aug 29 – Sep 12
Brussels sproutshardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 5
- Start indoors
- Jan 5 – Jan 19
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 9 – Feb 9
- Sow for fall
- Aug 29 – Sep 12
Marigoldtender
Next: start indoors from Jan 5
- Start indoors
- Jan 5 – Jan 5
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 2
Calendulahalf hardy
Next: start indoors from Jan 5
- Start indoors
- Jan 5 – Jan 19
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 23 – Mar 2
Mexican sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Jan 5
- Start indoors
- Jan 5 – Jan 19
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 2
Leaf lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Jan 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Jan 19 – Feb 16
Head lettucehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Jan 19
- Transplant outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Jan 19 – Feb 16
Zinniatender
Next: start indoors from Jan 19
- Start indoors
- Jan 19 – Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 2
Nasturtiumtender
Next: start indoors from Jan 19
- Start indoors
- Jan 19 – Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 2
Sunflowertender
Next: start indoors from Jan 19
- Start indoors
- Jan 19 – Feb 2
February
The next window opens in February.
Cucumbertender
Next: start indoors from Feb 2
- Start indoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 9
Summer squashtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 2
- Start indoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 9
Winter squashtender
Next: start indoors from Feb 2
- Start indoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 9 – Mar 16
Watermelontender
Next: start indoors from Feb 2
- Start indoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 9 – Mar 16
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 9 – Mar 16
Cantaloupetender
Next: start indoors from Feb 2
- Start indoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 9
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 9 – Mar 16
Peahardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
Spinachhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
Kohlrabihardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
- Sow for fall
- Aug 29 – Sep 12
Radishhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
Beethalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Mar 2
Turniphardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
Bulb onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
Green onionhardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 2
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 2 – Feb 16
Kalehardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 9
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 9 – Feb 9
- Sow for fall
- Aug 29 – Sep 12
Collardshardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 9
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 9 – Feb 9
- Sow for fall
- Aug 29 – Sep 12
Swiss chardhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 16 – Mar 2
Carrothalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 16 – Mar 2
Potatohalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 16 – Mar 2
Parsniphalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 16 – Mar 2
Dillhalf hardy
Next: sow outdoors from Feb 16
- Sow outdoors
- Feb 16 – Feb 23
March
The next window opens in March.
Bush beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 2
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 2
Pole beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 2
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 2
Sweet corntender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 2
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 2
Basiltender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 2
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 2
Marjoramtender
Next: transplant outdoors from Mar 2
- Transplant outdoors
- Mar 2 – Mar 2
Pumpkintender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 9
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 9 – Mar 16
Lima beantender
Next: sow outdoors from Mar 16
- Sow outdoors
- Mar 16 – Mar 16
October
The next window opens in October.
Sweet alyssumhardy
Next: sow for fall from Oct 10
- Sow for fall
- Oct 10 – Oct 10
No window listed
No frost-based window for these crops.
Mustard greenshalf hardy
No frost-based window listed.
No frost-based sowing window is listed for mustard greens.
Crop guidance from university extension services; see each crop page for sources.
Questions
- When is the last frost in Tucson?
- The typical last spring frost (32°F) in Tucson is Feb 5. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, a frost still comes after Mar 2.
- When is the first frost in Tucson?
- The typical first fall frost is Dec 9. In 1 out of 10 years that freeze, it arrives before Nov 21.
- When should I start tomato seeds in Tucson?
- Start tomato seeds indoors between Jan 5 and Jan 19, counting back from the safer last-frost date.
- What planting zone is Tucson in?
- Tucson is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map, going by ZIP 85708, the ZIP nearest the city center. Zones can vary within a city. The zone describes how cold winter nights get, not when to plant; for that, use the frost dates on this page.
Nearby cities
- Phoenix, AZ 195 km
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