Maricopa, Arizona planting calendar and frost dates
Maricopa is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around February 23 and the first fall frost around November 24, giving about 274 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9a
- Typical last frost
- February 23
- Typical first frost
- November 24
- Frost-free season
- 274 days
Frost dates in Maricopa
Last spring frost
- January 29Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 23Typical: a later frost in half of years
- March 15Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 10Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- November 24Typical: an earlier frost in half of years
- December 8Late: frost before this in 9 years out of 10
The growing season between the typical last and first frosts is about 274 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 February 2 and returns around December 6.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Maricopa 4 N, 7 miles NNW 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 Maricopa
January
Start indoors: basil, black-eyed susans, cabbages, cantaloupes, cauliflower, celery, chives, cilantro, collard greens, eggplants, ginger, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tomatoes, watermelons
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: 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: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, chives, cilantro, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, dill, eggplants, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green beans, green onions, lavenders, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, okra, oregano, parsley, peanuts, peppers, petunias, pumpkins, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, spinach, st. augustinegrass, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, swiss chard, thyme, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zoysiagrass, zucchini
April
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, collard greens, cucumbers, lettuce, peppers, potatoes, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes
September
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
October
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
November
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, 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, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Maricopa
Maricopa's 3 main ZIP codes take their frost dates from 2 different NOAA stations: the typical last frost ranges from January 7 in 85139 to February 23 in 85172. Every one of them is in zone 9a.
Planting dates for popular crops in Maricopa
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 9 to 23 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 11 to 18 |
| Strawberries | — | Jan 12 to 26 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 29 to Jan 12 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Aug 25 to Sep 29 |
| Cilantro | Jan 12 to 26 | Feb 23 to Mar 2 | — |
| Basil | Jan 16 to 30 | Mar 6 to 13 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Feb 2 to 9 | Aug 4 to 11 |
| Garlic | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Nov 24 to Dec 8 |
| Onions | Nov 3 to Dec 15 | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 25 to Sep 8 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 9 to 23 | Mar 9 to 23 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 19 to Jan 16 | Mar 6 to 20 | Aug 4 to Sep 1 |
| Carrots | — | Feb 2 to 23 | Sep 1 to 22 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 28 to Apr 4 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 30 to Feb 13 | Mar 6 to 20 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 23 to Mar 9 | Aug 18 to Sep 1 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 6 to 20 | Sep 1 to 8 |
| Zucchini | Feb 6 to 20 | Mar 6 to 20 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Broccoli | Dec 8 to 29 | Jan 26 to Feb 9 | Sep 8 to Oct 6 |
| Peas | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Sep 1 to 15 |
| Spinach | Jan 12 to 19 | Feb 16 to Mar 2 | Sep 15 to Oct 20 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 23 to Mar 16 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 21 to 28 | Apr 18 to May 2 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 13 to Dec 8 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 13 to Nov 24 |
| Grass Seed | — | Jan 12 to 26 | Oct 13 to 27 |
Nearby cities
- Casa Grande, AZ zone 9a, last frost Feb 5
- Chandler, AZ zone 9b
- Gilbert, AZ zone 9b
- Tempe, AZ zone 9b
- Goodyear, AZ zone 9b, last frost Jan 7
- Queen Creek, AZ zone 9b, last frost Feb 1
Planting in ArizonaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Maricopa
Questions
When is the last frost in Maricopa?
Around February 23 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Maricopa 4 N. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after March 15.
What planting zone is Maricopa in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Maricopa?
Start seeds indoors January 9 to 23 and set plants out March 6 to 20; the safest date to plant out is after March 15.
When is the first frost in Maricopa?
Around November 24 in a typical year, and before November 10 about 1 year in 10.