Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85708 (Tucson, 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, Tucson Intl AP, AZ (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 950% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)307 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
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 71°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tucson 11 W (19 mi), Elgin 5 S (45 mi), Walnut Gulch #1 (56 mi).
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tucson 11 W (19 mi), Elgin 5 S (45 mi), Walnut Gulch #1 (56 mi).
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 85708 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 74°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): window open as soil cools through the 70s and 60s.
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 23 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 30–Oct 28
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 14–Nov 4
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 4
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 14–Nov 11
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 14–28
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 30–Oct 28
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 11
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 25
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 28–Nov 25
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 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) | Jan 4 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 5 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 2 |
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 21 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 9 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 3 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 28 | Nov 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 5 | Dec 9 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 11 | Dec 26 |
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 85708
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 5) and first fall frost (Dec 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 | Dec 11–25 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 11–25 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 11–25 | Jan 15–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 8–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 4 (transplant) Sep 30–Oct 28 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 25–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 11–25 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 11–25 | Jan 8–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–Oct 14 (transplant) Sep 2–30 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | Sep 2–30 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 13–27 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 9 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 11–25 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Jan 22–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 1–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 28–Nov 11 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 11–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 13–27 | Dec 25–Jan 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 25–Jan 22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 30–Oct 14 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 13–27 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 28–Nov 25 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 25–Jan 8 (transplant) | Oct 28–Nov 25 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 19–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 8–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 8–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 16–30 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 8–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 8–15 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 8–15 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 13–27 | Feb 12–19 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 14–28 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 30–Oct 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: Tucson Intl AP, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USW00023160), elevation 2,549 ft, 6.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson WFO, AZ | 7 mi | Jan 20 | Dec 17 |
| Saguaro Np, AZ | 7 mi | Jan 26 | Dec 16 |
| Tucson Camp Ave EXP, AZ | 9 mi | Feb 20 | Nov 27 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 31 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85708
When is the last frost in 85708?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85708 is February 5. For a more cautious planting date, use March 2, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85708?
The average first fall freeze is December 9. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 21.
What hardiness zone is 85708?
ZIP 85708 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 85708 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
85707 Tucson 85711 Tucson 85710 Tucson 85706 Tucson 85714 Tucson 85715 Tucson 85726 Tucson 85712 Tucson
Other ZIP codes in Pima County
85321 85341 85601 85614 85619 85622 85629 85633 85634 85639 85641 85645 85653 85654 85701 85704 85705 85706 85707 85709 85710 85711 85712 85713 All Pima 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.