Fall in zone 7aPhoto: Dietmar Rabich, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 86028 (Apache County, 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, Painted Desert Np, AZ (4 miles away).
- Average last spring frostMay 150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostOct 2050% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)169 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone7a0 to 5°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 86028, 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 86028 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 mid-April to mid-May.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Mountain West and High Plains. Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Kentucky bluegrass (cool-season): Early fall: Around Labor Day (late August–September); Late fall: Late October–November, before the ground freezes; Late spring: Optional around Memorial Day. Avoid: Early-spring and midsummer feeding (pushes top growth, favors crabgrass).
Plant now
No vegetable planting windows are open this week.
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Oct 20: 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) | Apr 18 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | May 1 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | May 16 |
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 6 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Oct 20 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Nov 3 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | May 13 | Oct 10 |
| 32°F (freeze) | May 1 | Oct 20 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Apr 19 | Oct 30 |
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 86028
Dates count from your average last spring frost (May 1) and first fall frost (Oct 20). 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 | Mar 6–20 | May 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Feb 20–Mar 6 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Eggplant | Feb 20–Mar 6 | May 15–29 (transplant) | – |
| Tomatillo | Mar 6–20 | May 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Mar 6–20 | Apr 10–May 1 (transplant) Apr 3–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (transplant) Aug 11–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Mar 20–Apr 10 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 15 (sowing) |
| Kale | Mar 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Collards | Mar 6–20 | Apr 3–May 1 (transplant) Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 25 (transplant) Jul 14–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) | Jul 14–Aug 11 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 21 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Mar 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Apr 3–17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 22 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Mar 20–Apr 3 | Apr 17–May 8 (transplant) Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Apr 3–May 1 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Apr 10–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Mar 27–May 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 8–22 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Apr 3–24 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Mar 6–Apr 3 (sow outdoors) | Jul 28–Aug 11 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Feb 6–20 | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Mar 20–Apr 17 (sow outdoors) | Aug 11–25 (sowing) |
| Leek | Feb 6–20 | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Mar 20–Apr 3 (transplant) | Sep 8–Oct 6 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Jun 30–Jul 14 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | May 22–Jun 5 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, pole | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | May 22–Jun 12 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Apr 3–10 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Apr 3–10 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Winter squash | Apr 3–10 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Apr 3–10 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Apr 3–10 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 15–29 (transplant) May 15–29 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Feb 6–20 | May 8–15 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Mar 20–Apr 3 | May 8–22 (transplant) May 8–22 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Apr 17–May 15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Feb 20–Mar 6 | Apr 17–May 1 (transplant) Apr 10–May 1 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | Aug 25–Sep 8 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | May 1–15 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Apr 3–17 (transplant) | Aug 11–Sep 8 (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: Painted Desert Np, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00026190), elevation 5,760 ft, 3.6 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrified Forest Np, AZ | 17 mi | May 4 | Oct 16 |
| Holbrook, AZ | 21 mi | Apr 22 | Oct 24 |
| Sanders, AZ | 31 mi | May 22 | Oct 8 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 31 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 86028
When is the last frost in 86028?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 86028 is May 1. For a more cautious planting date, use May 16, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 86028?
The average first fall freeze is October 20. In 1 year in 10 it comes by October 6.
What hardiness zone is 86028?
ZIP 86028 is in USDA zone 7a (0 to 5°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 86028 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
86029 Sun Valley 86502 Wide Ruins 86025 Holbrook 85942 Woodruff 86032 Joseph City 86031 Indian Wells 86512 Sanders 85924 Concho
Other ZIP codes in Apache County
85920 85924 85925 85927 85930 85932 85936 85938 85940 86502 86503 86504 86505 86506 86507 86508 86511 86512 86514 86520 86535 86538 86540 86544 All Apache 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
- Soil-temp heads-up
- 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.