Fall in zone 8bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85531 (Central, 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, Safford AG Ctr, AZ (7 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMar 2550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)228 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone8b15 to 20°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 85531, 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 85531 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 May 10 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
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 9: 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) | Mar 5 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Mar 25 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Apr 14 |
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) | Oct 23 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 25 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Apr 12 | Oct 30 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Mar 25 | Nov 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Mar 3 | Nov 22 |
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 85531
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Mar 25) and first fall frost (Nov 9). 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 | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | Jul 13–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Jan 14–28 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Jan 14–28 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Mar 4–25 (transplant) Feb 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (transplant) Aug 31–Sep 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Feb 11–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 5 (sowing) |
| Kale | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Collards | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 25 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–Sep 14 (transplant) Aug 3–31 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Jan 14–28 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 3–31 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 10 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Jan 28–Feb 11 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Feb 11–25 | Mar 11–Apr 1 (transplant) Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Feb 25–Mar 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Mar 4–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Feb 18–Apr 1 (sow outdoors) | Sep 28–Oct 12 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Feb 25–Mar 18 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Feb 11–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | Aug 31–Sep 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Sep 28–Oct 26 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Jul 20–Aug 3 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Apr 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Apr 15–May 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 17–31 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Feb 25–Mar 4 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Feb 11–25 | Apr 8–22 (transplant) Apr 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Apr 1–8 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Feb 11–25 | Apr 1–15 (transplant) Apr 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Mar 11–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Jan 14–28 | Mar 11–25 (transplant) Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Mar 25–Apr 8 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (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: Safford AG Ctr, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00027390), elevation 2,954 ft, 7.0 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Safford Muni AP, AZ | 9 mi | Mar 8 | Nov 20 |
| Ft Thomas 2 SW, AZ | 15 mi | Apr 1 | Nov 6 |
| Clifton, AZ | 30 mi | Feb 26 | Nov 23 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 37 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85531
When is the last frost in 85531?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85531 is March 25. For a more cautious planting date, use April 14, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85531?
The average first fall freeze is November 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 23.
What hardiness zone is 85531?
ZIP 85531 is in USDA zone 8b (15 to 20°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 85531 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
85552 Thatcher 85543 Pima 85535 85551 Solomon 85546 Safford 85536 Fort Thomas 85540 Morenci 85643 Willcox
Other ZIP codes in Graham County
85530 85535 85536 85542 85543 85546 85551 85552 85643 All Graham County frost dates · Arizona frost dates
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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- 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.