Gilbert, Arizona planting calendar and frost dates
Gilbert is in USDA hardiness zone 9b, and frost is rare: a 32°F night happens in about 18% of years.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
Frost dates in Gilbert
A 32°F night is rare here: it happens in about 18% of years, so median frost dates do not describe a typical year.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 13.4 miles WNW of the city center and 129 feet lower. Low-lying and rural spots often frost later in spring and earlier in fall than airports and city centers.
What to plant each month in Gilbert
There are two planting seasons. Cool-season crops go in from late August through February and grow through the mild winter. Warm-season crops go in from February to April and need to mature before the June heat. Midsummer heat, intense sun and low humidity stall most crops and stop tomatoes and peppers from setting fruit, so heat-tolerant crops such as okra, Armenian cucumber, melons and sweet potatoes carry the garden through summer. The July-September monsoon brings humidity and storms, and a second short warm-season window opens in July-August for tomatoes, squash, beans and corn. The months below follow the planting calendar for Arizona Low Desert from the Cooperative Extension sources listed.
January
Plant: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, dill, green onions, leeks, lettuce, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, raspberries, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, turnips
February
Plant: asparagus, basil, beets, black-eyed susans, cantaloupes, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, dill, figs, green onions, hollyhocks, lavenders, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, peas, peppers, petunias, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, roses, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, tomatoes, turnips, watermelons, zucchini
March
Plant: basil, beets, black-eyed susans, cantaloupes, carrots, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, eggplants, figs, green beans, green onions, hollyhocks, marigolds, okra, peanuts, peppers, petunias, potatoes, pumpkins, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zinnias, zucchini
April
Plant: basil, cantaloupes, carrots, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, green beans, green onions, marigolds, okra, peanuts, radishes, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zucchini
May
Plant: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, marigolds, okra, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, zinnias
June
Plant: cantaloupes, cosmos, marigolds, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, zinnias
July
Plant: cantaloupes, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, sunflowers, sweet corn, tomatoes, winter squash
August
Plant: broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, green onions, kale, leeks, lettuce, pumpkins, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips, winter squash, zucchini
September
Plant: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, collard greens, cucumbers, daffodils, figs, green beans, green onions, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, parsley, peas, petunias, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant: beets, black-eyed susans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, collard greens, coneflowers, dill, figs, garlic, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sweet peas, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
November
Plant: asparagus, bearded irises, beets, black-eyed susans, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, dill, green onions, hollyhocks, hyacinths, kale, lettuce, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sweet peas, swiss chard, thyme, turnips, wildflowers
December
Plant: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, celery, cilantro, collard greens, dill, green onions, kale, lettuce, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, peas, petunias, poppies, radishes, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sweet peas, swiss chard, thyme, turnips
Sources for the Arizona Low Desert calendar
- Vegetable Planting Calendar for Maricopa County (AZ1005, rev. 2018) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Planting and Harvesting Calendar for Gardeners in Yuma County (AZ1615, reviewed 2020) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Flower Planting Guide for the Low Desert (AZ1100a) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Maricopa County
- Growing Common Figs in the Low Desert (AZ1636) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- January Monthly Reminder (Pima County Master Gardeners) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Pima County Master Gardeners
- February Monthly Reminders (Pima County Master Gardeners) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Pima County Master Gardeners
- March Monthly Reminders (Pima County Master Gardeners) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Pima County Master Gardeners
- September Monthly Gardening Guide (Pima County Master Gardeners) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Pima County Master Gardeners
- October Monthly Gardening Guide (Pima County Master Gardeners) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Pima County Master Gardeners
- November Monthly Gardening Guide (Pima County Master Gardeners) · University of Arizona Cooperative Extension, Pima County Master Gardeners
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Gilbert
All 6 of Gilbert's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85233 | 9b | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 13.4 mi WNW | Rare | Rare |
| 85234 | 9b | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 13.4 mi WNW | Rare | Rare |
| 85295 | 9b | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 13.4 mi WNW | Rare | Rare |
| 85296 | 9b | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 13.4 mi WNW | Rare | Rare |
| 85297 | 9b | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 13.4 mi WNW | Rare | Rare |
| 85298 | 9b | Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, 13.4 mi WNW | Rare | Rare |
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler, Scottsdale and Tempe, so their planting calendars match Gilbert's.
Nearby cities
- Mesa, AZ zone 9b
- Chandler, AZ zone 9b
- Queen Creek, AZ zone 9b, last frost Feb 1
- Tempe, AZ zone 9b
- Maricopa, AZ zone 9a, last frost Feb 23
- Scottsdale, AZ zone 9b
Planting in ArizonaAbout zone 9bArizona Low Desert planting calendarPrintable calendar for Gilbert
Questions
When is the last frost in Gilbert?
Frost is rare in Gilbert: a 32°F night happens in about 18% of years, so planting follows the Arizona Low Desert calendar on this page rather than frost dates.
What planting zone is Gilbert in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting times follow the regional calendar instead.