Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85377 (Carefree, 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, Carefree, AZ (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 450% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)313 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 85377, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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 85377 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 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 7–Nov 4
- Kale: fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
- Collards: fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Swiss chard: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Beet: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Turnip: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Green onion / scallion: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 7–Nov 4
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 21–Nov 11
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 11
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 4
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 18
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 4
- Radish: fall sowing Nov 4–18
- Garlic: fall sowing Nov 4–Dec 2
- Shallot: fall sowing Nov 4–Dec 2
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 4
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 21–Nov 4
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) | Jan 3 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 4 |
| 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 24 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 16 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 15 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 5 | Dec 1 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 4 | Dec 16 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 14 | Jan 1 (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 85377
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 4) and first fall frost (Dec 16). 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 10–24 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 10–24 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 10–24 | Jan 14–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 7–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 11 (transplant) Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 24–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (transplant) Sep 9–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 12–26 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 16 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 10–24 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 7–21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Jan 21–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 31–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Nov 4–18 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 10–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 12–26 | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 24–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 12–26 | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 4–Dec 2 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 24–Jan 7 (transplant) | Nov 4–Dec 2 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 7–14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 7–14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 7–14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 7–14 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 7–14 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 12–26 | Feb 11–18 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 24–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 26–Dec 10 | Jan 21–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 7–21 (transplant) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (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: Carefree, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00021282), elevation 2,530 ft, 0.8 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinnacle Peak, AZ | 7 mi | Jan 27 | Dec 21 |
| Phoenix Deer Valley Muni AP, AZ | 13 mi | Jan 8 | Dec 25 |
| Scottsdale Muni AP, AZ | 14 mi | Jan 6 | Dec 26 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 29 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85377
When is the last frost in 85377?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85377 is February 4. 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 85377?
The average first fall freeze is December 16. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 24.
What hardiness zone is 85377?
ZIP 85377 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 85377 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
85266 Scottsdale 85331 Cave Creek 85262 Scottsdale 85054 Phoenix 85050 Phoenix 85085 Phoenix 85255 Scottsdale 85024 Phoenix
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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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.