Yuma, Arizona planting calendar and frost dates
Yuma is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. The last spring frost typically comes around January 8 and the first fall frost around December 28, giving about 362 frost-free days a year.
- Typical last frost
- January 8
- Typical first frost
- December 28
- Frost-free season
- 362 days
Frost dates in Yuma
Last spring frost
- December 17Risky: frost later than this in 9 years out of 10
- January 8Typical: a later frost in half of years
- February 19Safe: a later frost only 1 year in 10
First fall frost
- December 11Risky: frost earlier than this 1 year in 10
- December 28Typical: 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 362 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 1 and returns around December 31.
NOAA U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Yuma Quartermaster Depot, 0.2 miles NE 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 Yuma
January
Start indoors: basil, cantaloupes, cosmos, cucumbers, okra, pumpkins, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
Plant or sow outdoors: asparagus, avocados, beets, carrots, cauliflower, chives, cilantro, dahlias, dill, figs, garden mums, ginger, gladioli, grapes, green onions, lavenders, leeks, lettuce, lilies, marigolds, mints, nasturtiums, oregano, parsley, peppers, petunias, ranunculus, rosemary, roses, sage, snapdragons, spinach, sunflowers, sweet corn, swiss chard, thyme
Plant for fall: crocuses, garlic, hyacinths, ornamental alliums, tulips
February
Plant or sow outdoors: avocados, basil, cantaloupes, cucumbers, eggplants, garden mums, green beans, green onions, peppers, pumpkins, st. augustinegrass, tomatoes, watermelons, winter squash, zucchini
March
Start indoors: zinnias
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, celery, centipedegrass, cosmos, okra, peanuts, st. augustinegrass, sweet potatoes, zoysiagrass
April
Plant or sow outdoors: bermudagrass, centipedegrass, 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: bearded irises, beets, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, cucumbers, daylilies, green beans, kale, lettuce, peas, peppers, radishes, 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, 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, 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, lettuce, lilies, ornamental alliums, peonies, perennial ryegrass, radishes, roses, saffron, snapdragons, spinach, tall fescue, tulips, turnips
December
Start indoors: basil, celery, cilantro, eggplants, 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 Yuma
All 2 of Yuma's main ZIP codes take their frost dates from Yuma Quartermaster Depot, so the dates on this page apply across the city. The hardiness zone is 10a in 85364, and 9a in 85365.
Planting dates for popular crops in Yuma
| Plant | Start indoors | Plant or sow outdoors | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 18 to Jan 1 | Feb 12 to 26 | Sep 14 to 21 |
| Strawberries | — | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | — |
| Lettuce | Nov 13 to 27 | Jan 1 to 15 | Sep 28 to Nov 2 |
| Cilantro | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | Jan 8 to 15 | — |
| Basil | Dec 25 to Jan 8 | Feb 12 to 19 | — |
| Potatoes | — | Dec 18 to 25 | Sep 7 to 14 |
| Garlic | — | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | Dec 28 to Jan 11 |
| Onions | Sep 18 to Oct 30 | Dec 11 to 25 | — |
| Cucumbers | Jan 15 to 29 | Feb 12 to 26 | Sep 28 to Oct 12 |
| Pumpkins | Jan 15 to 29 | Feb 12 to 26 | — |
| Peppers | Nov 27 to Dec 25 | Feb 12 to 26 | Sep 7 to Oct 5 |
| Carrots | — | Dec 18 to Jan 8 | Oct 5 to 26 |
| Sweet Potatoes | — | Mar 7 to 14 | — |
| Watermelons | Jan 8 to 22 | Feb 12 to 26 | — |
| Sweet Corn | — | Jan 8 to 22 | Sep 21 to Oct 5 |
| Green Beans | — | Feb 12 to 26 | Oct 5 to 12 |
| Zucchini | Jan 15 to 29 | Feb 12 to 26 | Oct 5 to 19 |
| Broccoli | Oct 23 to Nov 13 | Dec 11 to 25 | Oct 12 to Nov 9 |
| Peas | — | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | Oct 5 to 19 |
| Spinach | Nov 27 to Dec 4 | Jan 1 to 15 | Oct 19 to Nov 23 |
| Sunflowers | — | Jan 8 to 29 | — |
| Zinnias | Mar 5 to 12 | Apr 2 to 16 | — |
| Tulips | — | — | Nov 16 to Jan 11 |
| Daffodils | — | — | Nov 16 to Dec 28 |
| Grass Seed | — | Nov 27 to Dec 11 | Nov 16 to 30 |
Nearby cities
- Buckeye, AZ zone 9b, last frost Jan 20
- Indio, CA zone 10a
- Goodyear, AZ zone 9b, last frost Jan 7
- Palm Desert, CA zone 10a
- Lake Havasu City, AZ zone 10a, last frost Feb 18
- Avondale, AZ zone 9b, last frost Jan 7
Planting in ArizonaAbout zone 9aPrintable calendar for Yuma
Questions
When is the last frost in Yuma?
Around January 8 in a typical year, based on NOAA's 1991-2020 records for Yuma Quartermaster Depot. There is still a 1 in 10 chance of frost after February 19.
What planting zone is Yuma in?
USDA hardiness zone 9a (2023 map), with parts of the city in zone 10a. The zone tells you which perennials survive the winter; planting dates depend on frost dates instead.
When should I plant tomatoes in Yuma?
Start seeds indoors December 18 to January 1 and set plants out February 12 to 26; the safest date to plant out is after February 19.
When is the first frost in Yuma?
Around December 28 in a typical year, and before December 11 about 1 year in 10.