Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85281 (Tempe, AZ)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Tempe Asu, AZ (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 550% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)298 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 85281 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring late January to February; fall September to October.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Arid Southwest (low desert). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Mar 31 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
Plant now
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 26–Oct 24
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 10–31
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 10–31
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 10–Nov 7
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 10–24
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 26–Oct 24
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 5: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Jan 12 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 13 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 9 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Nov 18 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 5 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 24 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 8 | Nov 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 13 | Dec 5 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 16 | Dec 19 |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 85281
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 13) and first fall frost (Dec 5). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | Aug 8–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 5–19 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 5–19 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 23–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 16–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–31 (transplant) Sep 26–Oct 24 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 2–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–31 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (transplant) Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–Oct 10 (transplant) Aug 29–Sep 26 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 5–19 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 5–19 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) | Aug 29–Sep 26 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 15–Sep 5 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 19–Jan 2 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 16–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 16–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 2–16 | Jan 30–Feb 20 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 16–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 9–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 24–Nov 7 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 16–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 19–Jan 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 2–30 (sow outdoors) | Sep 26–Oct 10 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 24–Nov 21 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 2–16 (transplant) | Oct 24–Nov 21 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Aug 15–29 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 6–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 16–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 16–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 12–26 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 16–23 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 16–23 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 16–23 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 2–16 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 21–Dec 5 | Feb 20–27 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 2–16 | Feb 20–Mar 6 (transplant) Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 5–19 | Jan 30–Feb 13 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 10–24 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 16–30 (transplant) | Sep 26–Oct 24 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Tempe Asu, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00028499), elevation 1,167 ft, 0.7 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Phoenix Sky Harbor Intl AP, AZ | 4 mi | Jan 5 | Jan 3 (next year) |
| South Phoenix, AZ | 8 mi | Jan 21 | Dec 16 |
| Scottsdale Muni AP, AZ | 14 mi | Jan 6 | Dec 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 39 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85281
When is the last frost in 85281?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85281 is February 13. For a more cautious planting date, use March 9, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85281?
The average first fall freeze is December 5. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 18.
What hardiness zone is 85281?
ZIP 85281 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 85281 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
85282 Tempe 85026 Phoenix 85257 Scottsdale 85008 Phoenix 85283 Tempe 85034 Phoenix 85251 Scottsdale 85202 Mesa
Other ZIP codes in Maricopa County
85003 85004 85006 85007 85008 85009 85012 85013 85014 85015 85016 85017 85018 85019 85020 85021 85022 85023 85024 85026 85027 85028 85029 85031 All Maricopa County frost dates · Arizona frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.