Marana, Arizona planting calendar and frost dates
Marana is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 23 and the first fall frost around December 6, giving about 287 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- February 23
- Typical first frost
- December 6
- Frost-free season
- 287 days
Frost dates in Marana
Last spring frost
- January 15Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 22Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 18Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 6Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 25Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 287 days. Frost here means a low of 32°F at the weather station. A hard freeze (28°F), which damages most hardy crops too, typically ends around January 22 and returns around December 19.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Tucson 17 Nw, 18.3 miles S of the city center and 122 feet higher. 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 Marana
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, blueberries, broccoli, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, figs, garlic, gladioli, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, leeks, onions, peas, poppies, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, spinach, strawberries, swiss chard, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, ranunculus, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, beets, black-eyed susans, blackberries, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, collard greens, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, gladioli, grapes, green onions, kentucky bluegrass, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, thyme, turnips
March
Start indoors: cosmos, okra, zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, cantaloupes, chives, cilantro, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
April
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, st. augustinegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
Plant for fall: brussels sprouts, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, tomatoes
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, snapdragons, spinach, sweet corn, swiss chard, turnips, zucchini
October
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: cabbages, cauliflower, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hyacinths, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, saffron, spinach, tall fescue, tulips
December
Start indoors: black-eyed susans, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, chives, collard greens, ginger, kale, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, onions, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Marana
Marana's 4 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 4 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from February 5 in 85743 to February 23 in 85658. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Marana
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 15 to 29 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 23 to 30 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 12 to 26 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Sep 6 to Oct 11 |
| Cilantro | Jan 12 to 26 | Feb 23 to Mar 2 | — |
| Basil | Jan 22 to Feb 5 | Mar 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 2 to 9 | Aug 16 to 23 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Dec 6 to 20 |
| Onions | Nov 3 to Dec 15 | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 12 to 26 | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 6 to 20 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 12 to 26 | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 25 to Jan 22 | Mar 12 to 26 | Aug 16 to Sep 13 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 2 to 23 | Sep 13 to Oct 4 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Apr 3 to 10 | — |
| Watermelons | Feb 5 to 19 | Mar 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 30 to Sep 13 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 13 to 20 |
| Zucchini | Feb 12 to 26 | Mar 12 to 26 | Sep 13 to 27 |
| Broccoli | Dec 8 to 29 | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Sep 20 to Oct 18 |
| Peas | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Sep 13 to 27 |
| Spinach | Jan 12 to 19 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Sep 27 to Nov 1 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 23 to Mar 16 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 30 to Apr 6 | Apr 27 to May 11 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 25 to Dec 20 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 25 to Dec 6 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Oct 25 to Nov 8 |
Nearby cities
- Tucson, AZ zone 9a, last frost Feb 5
- Casa Grande, AZ zone 9a, last frost Feb 5
- Queen Creek, AZ zone 9b, last frost Feb 1
- Maricopa, AZ zone 9a, last frost Feb 23
- Gilbert, AZ zone 9b
- Chandler, AZ zone 9b
Planting in ArizonaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Marana
Questions
When is the last frost in Marana?
Around February 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Tucson 17 Nw. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 22.
What planting zone is Marana 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 Marana?
Start seeds indoors January 15 to 29 and set plants out March 12 to 26; the safest date to plant out is after March 22.
When is the first frost in Marana?
Around December 6 in a typical year, and before November 18 about 1 year in 10.