Mesa, Arizona planting calendar and frost dates

Frost dates in Mesa

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, 10.5 miles W of the city center and 135 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 Mesa

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.

1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. April

   Plant: basil, cantaloupes, carrots, cosmos, cucumbers, dahlias, green beans, green onions, marigolds, okra, peanuts, radishes, sunflowers, sweet corn, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zucchini

5. May

   Plant: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, marigolds, okra, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, zinnias

6. June

   Plant: cantaloupes, cosmos, marigolds, sunflowers, sweet potatoes, zinnias

7. July

   Plant: cantaloupes, green beans, peppers, pumpkins, sunflowers, sweet corn, tomatoes, winter squash

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Mesa

All 13 of Mesa's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 10a in 85202, 85210, and 9b in 85201, 85203, 85204, 85205, 85206, 85207, 85208, 85209, 85212, 85213, 85215.

Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport also supplies the frost dates for Phoenix, Gilbert, Chandler, Scottsdale and Tempe, so their planting calendars match Mesa's.

Nearby cities

• Gilbert, AZ zone 9b
• Chandler, AZ zone 9b
• Tempe, AZ zone 9b
• Queen Creek, AZ zone 9b, last frost Feb 1
• Scottsdale, AZ zone 9b
• Phoenix, AZ zone 9b