Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85712 (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 Camp Ave EXP, AZ (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostNov 2750% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)280 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 (17 mi), Elgin 5 S (51 mi), Walnut Gulch #1 (60 mi).
4-inch depth
74°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 74°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tucson 11 W (17 mi), Elgin 5 S (51 mi), Walnut Gulch #1 (60 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 85712 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 Apr 7 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 transplant Oct 2–23
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 2–23
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 2–30
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Nov 27: 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 30 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 20 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 11 |
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 10 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Nov 27 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 12 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 12 | Nov 16 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 20 | Nov 27 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 30 | Dec 10 |
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 85712
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 20) and first fall frost (Nov 27). 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 26–Jan 9 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | Jul 31–Aug 28 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 12–26 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 12–26 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Jan 30–Feb 20 (transplant) Jan 23–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (transplant) Sep 18–Oct 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Jan 23–Feb 20 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) Aug 21–Sep 18 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 12–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 12–26 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 12–26 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 18 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Aug 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 26–Jan 9 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 9–23 | Feb 6–27 (transplant) Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 23–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 30–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 16–Feb 27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 23–Feb 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 30–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 26–Jan 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 9–Feb 6 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 9–23 (transplant) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Aug 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 13–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 23–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 23–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | Sep 4–18 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 23–30 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 23–30 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 23–30 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 9–23 | Mar 6–20 (transplant) Mar 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 28–Dec 12 | Feb 27–Mar 6 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 9–23 | Feb 27–Mar 13 (transplant) Feb 27–Mar 13 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 6–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 12–26 | Feb 6–20 (transplant) Jan 30–Feb 20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 20–Mar 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 23–Feb 6 (transplant) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (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 Camp Ave EXP, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00028796), elevation 2,330 ft, 3.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson WFO, AZ | 4 mi | Jan 20 | Dec 17 |
| Tucson U Of A #1, AZ | 7 mi | Feb 11 | Dec 2 |
| Tohono Chul, AZ | 8 mi | Feb 26 | Dec 4 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 37 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85712
When is the last frost in 85712?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85712 is February 20. For a more cautious planting date, use March 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85712?
The average first fall freeze is November 27. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 10.
What hardiness zone is 85712?
ZIP 85712 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 85712 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
85716 Tucson 85711 Tucson 85715 Tucson 85724 Tucson 85719 Tucson 85750 Catalina Foothills 85721 Tucson 85710 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 85708 85709 85710 85711 85713 All Pima 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.