Goodyear, Arizona planting calendar and frost dates
Goodyear is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around January 7 and the first fall frost around December 24, giving about 351 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- January 7
- Typical first frost
- December 24
- Frost-free season
- 351 days
Frost dates in Goodyear
Last spring frost
- December 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 7Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 5Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 6Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- New yearLate: in about 1 year in 10, the first frost waits until after December 31
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 351 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Litchfield Park, 4.4 miles N of the city center. 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 Goodyear
January
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cucumbers, eggplants, peppers, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, green beans, okra, peanuts, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, zinnias, zoysiagrass
September
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
October
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kentucky bluegrass, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet peas, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
December
Start indoors: celery, cilantro, eggplants, ginger, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsley, peas, peppers, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Goodyear
Goodyear's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from January 7 in 85139 to January 20 in 85326. The hardiness zone is 9a in 85139, and 9b in 85326, 85338, 85395.
| ZIP code | Zone | Weather station | Typical last frost | Typical first frost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 85139 | 9a | Litchfield Park, 4.4 mi N | Jan 7 | Dec 24 |
| 85326 | 9b | Youngtown, 3.8 mi WNW | Jan 20 | Dec 15 |
| 85338 | 9b | Litchfield Park, 4.4 mi N | Jan 7 | Dec 24 |
| 85395 | 9b | Litchfield Park, 4.4 mi N | Jan 7 | Dec 24 |
Litchfield Park also supplies the frost dates for Avondale, so their planting calendars match Goodyear's.
Planting dates for popular crops in Goodyear
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Sep 10 to 17 |
| Strawberries | — | Nov 26 to Dec 10 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 12 to 26 | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Sep 24 to Oct 29 |
| Cilantro | Nov 26 to Dec 10 | Jan 7 to 14 | — |
| Basil | Jan 7 to 21 | Feb 25 to Mar 4 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 17 to 24 | Sep 3 to 10 |
| Garlic | — | Nov 26 to Dec 10 | Dec 24 to Jan 7 |
| Onions | Sep 17 to Oct 29 | Dec 10 to 24 | — |
| Cucumbers | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Sep 24 to Oct 8 |
| Pumpkins | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 10 to Jan 7 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Sep 3 to Oct 1 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 17 to Jan 7 | Oct 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 19 to 26 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 21 to Feb 4 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 7 to 21 | Sep 17 to Oct 1 |
| Green Beans | — | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Oct 1 to 8 |
| Zucchini | Jan 28 to Feb 11 | Feb 25 to Mar 11 | Oct 1 to 15 |
| Broccoli | Oct 22 to Nov 12 | Dec 10 to 24 | Oct 8 to Nov 5 |
| Peas | — | Nov 26 to Dec 10 | Oct 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Nov 26 to Dec 3 | Dec 31 to Jan 14 | Oct 15 to Nov 19 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 7 to 28 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 14 to 21 | Apr 11 to 25 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 12 to Jan 7 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 12 to Dec 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Nov 26 to Dec 10 | Nov 12 to 26 |
Nearby cities
- Avondale, AZ zone 9b, last frost Jan 7
- Buckeye, AZ zone 9b, last frost Jan 20
- Glendale, AZ zone 9b, last frost Jan 20
- Maricopa, AZ zone 9a, last frost Feb 23
- Tempe, AZ zone 9b
- Phoenix, AZ zone 9b
Planting in ArizonaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Goodyear
Questions
When is the last frost in Goodyear?
Around January 7 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Litchfield Park. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 5.
What planting zone is Goodyear in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 9a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Goodyear?
Start seeds indoors December 31 to January 14 and set plants out February 25 to March 11.
When is the first frost in Goodyear?
Around December 24 in a typical year, and before December 6 about 1 year in 10.