Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85353 (Phoenix, 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, Litchfield Park, AZ (8 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 77% of years (about 7 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 750% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2450% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)351 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
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
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 85353 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 Feb 22 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 Oct 15–Nov 12
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 1–29
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 15–29
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 15–29
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 15–29
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 15–29
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 15–29
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 15–Nov 12
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 29–Nov 19
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 19
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 26
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 29–Nov 12
- Parsley: start seeds indoors Oct 29–Nov 12
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
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) | Dec 17 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 7 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 5 |
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) | Dec 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 24 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 16 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jan 31 | Dec 9 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 7 | Dec 24 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 5 | Jan 4 (next year) |
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 85353
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 7) and first fall frost (Dec 24). 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 | Nov 12–26 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 27–Sep 24 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 12–26 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 12–26 | Dec 17–Jan 7 (transplant) Dec 10–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 19 (transplant) Oct 15–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 26–Dec 17 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 19 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 12–26 | Dec 10–24 (transplant) Dec 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 12–26 | Dec 10–Jan 7 (transplant) Dec 10–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–29 (transplant) Sep 17–Oct 15 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | Sep 17–Oct 15 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 15–29 | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 3–24 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 12–26 | Dec 10–24 (transplant) Dec 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 10–24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 10–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 26 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Dec 24–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 10–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 17–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 3–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Nov 12–26 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 10–31 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 17–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 15–29 | Nov 26–Dec 10 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 26–Dec 24 (sow outdoors) | Oct 15–29 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 15–29 | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 26–Dec 10 (transplant) | Nov 12–Dec 10 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | Sep 3–17 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 28–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 10–17 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 10–17 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 1–15 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 10–17 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 10–17 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 10–17 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 15–29 | Jan 14–21 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 29–Nov 12 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) Dec 17–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 29–Nov 12 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 10–24 (transplant) | Oct 15–Nov 12 (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: Litchfield Park, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00024977), elevation 1,040 ft, 7.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Laveen 3 SSE, AZ | 9 mi | Jan 14 | Dec 22 |
| South Phoenix, AZ | 12 mi | Jan 21 | Dec 16 |
| Youngtown, AZ | 12 mi | Jan 20 | Dec 15 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 14 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85353
When is the last frost in 85353?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85353 is January 7. For a more cautious planting date, use February 5, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85353?
The average first fall freeze is December 24. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 6.
What hardiness zone is 85353?
ZIP 85353 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 85353 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
85329 Avondale 85323 Avondale 85392 Avondale 85043 Phoenix 85037 Phoenix 85035 Phoenix 85033 Phoenix 85305 Glendale
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.