Queen Creek, Arizona planting calendar and frost dates
Queen Creek is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. The last spring frost typically comes around February 1 and the first fall frost around December 11, giving about 315 frost-free days a year.
- Hardiness zone
- Zone 9b
- Typical last frost
- February 1
- Typical first frost
- December 11
- Frost-free season
- 315 days
Frost dates in Queen Creek
Last spring frost
- January 2Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- February 1Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 27Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- November 23Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 11Typical: 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 315 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 8 and returns around December 26.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Chandler Heights, 9 miles W 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 Queen Creek
January
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, celery, cilantro, eggplants, marigolds, nasturtiums, peppers, ranunculus, tomatoes, watermelons
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, poppies, potatoes, radishes, ranunculus, raspberries, rhubarb, roses, snapdragons, spinach, strawberries, sweet peas, swiss chard, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
February
Start indoors: cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, 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
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, basil, bermudagrass, cantaloupes, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, 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, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zinnias, zoysiagrass
May
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, zinnias, zoysiagrass
August
September
Plant for fall: bearded irises, broccoli, brussels sprouts, carrots, collard greens, cucumbers, green beans, lettuce, peas, peppers, snapdragons, sweet corn, swiss chard, tomatoes, zucchini
October
Start indoors: onions
Plant for fall: azaleas, bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, clematis, collard greens, coneflowers, crocuses, daffodils, daylilies, grass seed, hostas, hydrangeas, kale, kentucky bluegrass, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peas, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard, tall fescue, tulips, turnips, zucchini
November
Start indoors: broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, collard greens, kale, leeks, onions, oregano, parsley, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, snapdragons
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, cilantro, collard greens, ginger, leeks, lettuce, marigolds, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, sage, snapdragons, spinach, swiss chard
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, black-eyed susans, blueberries, garlic, grapes, grass seed, green onions, hollyhocks, kale, kentucky bluegrass, onions, peas, poppies, raspberries, rhubarb, strawberries, sweet peas, tall fescue, turnips, wildflowers
Plant for fall: crocuses, daffodils, garlic, hyacinths, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, tulips
Frost dates and zones by ZIP code in Queen Creek
All 2 of Queen Creek's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Chandler Heights, so the dates on this page apply across the city. Every one of them is in zone 9b.
Planting dates for popular crops in Queen Creek
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 10 to 24 | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 28 to Sep 4 |
| Strawberries | — | Dec 21 to Jan 4 | — |
| Lettuce | Dec 7 to 21 | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Sep 11 to Oct 16 |
| Cilantro | Dec 21 to Jan 4 | Feb 1 to 8 | — |
| Basil | Jan 17 to 31 | Mar 7 to 14 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Jan 11 to 18 | Aug 21 to 28 |
| Garlic | — | Dec 21 to Jan 4 | Dec 11 to 25 |
| Onions | Oct 12 to Nov 23 | Jan 4 to 18 | — |
| Cucumbers | Feb 7 to 21 | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 11 to 25 |
| Pumpkins | Feb 7 to 21 | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Peppers | Dec 20 to Jan 17 | Mar 7 to 21 | Aug 21 to Sep 18 |
| Carrots | — | Jan 11 to Feb 1 | Sep 18 to Oct 9 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 27 to Apr 3 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 31 to Feb 14 | Mar 7 to 21 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Feb 1 to 15 | Sep 4 to 18 |
| Green Beans | — | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 18 to 25 |
| Zucchini | Feb 7 to 21 | Mar 7 to 21 | Sep 18 to Oct 2 |
| Broccoli | Nov 16 to Dec 7 | Jan 4 to 18 | Sep 25 to Oct 23 |
| Peas | — | Dec 21 to Jan 4 | Sep 18 to Oct 2 |
| Spinach | Dec 21 to 28 | Jan 25 to Feb 8 | Oct 2 to Nov 6 |
| Sunflowers | — | Feb 1 to 22 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 24 to 31 | Apr 21 to May 5 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Oct 30 to Dec 25 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Oct 30 to Dec 11 |
| Grass Seed | — | Dec 21 to Jan 4 | Oct 30 to Nov 13 |
Nearby cities
- Gilbert, AZ zone 9b
- Mesa, AZ zone 9b
- Chandler, AZ zone 9b
- Tempe, AZ zone 9b
- Casa Grande, AZ zone 9a, last frost Feb 5
- Maricopa, AZ zone 9a, last frost Feb 23
Planting in ArizonaAbout zone 9bPrintable calendar for Queen Creek
Questions
When is the last frost in Queen Creek?
Around February 1 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Chandler Heights. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 27.
What planting zone is Queen Creek in?
USDA hardiness zone 9b (2023 map). The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Queen Creek?
Start seeds indoors January 10 to 24 and set plants out March 7 to 21.
When is the first frost in Queen Creek?
Around December 11 in a typical year, and before November 23 about 1 year in 10.