Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ
Plan your garden around Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ's typical frost-free growing season, using NOAA climate normals and a 42-crop planting calendar built for this location.
Last Spring Frost
January 21
Safe Feb 20
Typical Jan 21
Risky Dec 24
First Fall Frost
December 16
Safe Nov 29
Typical Dec 16
Risky Jan 9
Growing Season
331 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 10a
Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.
Data: NOAA station SOUTH PHOENIX, AZ US, 9.1 km away.
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days until the typical last spring frost
Monthly Temperatures
Avg. high
Avg. temp
Avg. low
Planting Calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Nov 26 – Dec 10 | — | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | — | 60–85 days | Start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost; transplant out 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Pepper | Nov 12 – Nov 26 | — | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | — | 60–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost. Transplant only once nights stay above 55F, 1-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Eggplant | Nov 12 – Nov 26 | — | Feb 4 – Feb 11 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Dec 24 – Dec 31 | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | — | 50–65 days | Can be started indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting, or direct-sown 1-2 weeks after last frost once soil is warm. |
| Zucchini | Dec 31 – Jan 7 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | — | 45–55 days | Fast-growing squash; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 2-3 weeks early for a head start. |
| Winter Squash | Dec 24 – Dec 31 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | — | — | 90–120 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost; back-time from your first fall frost so the 90-120 day maturity window lands before it. |
| Watermelon | Dec 24 – Dec 31 | — | Feb 4 – Feb 11 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Dec 24 – Dec 31 | — | Feb 4 – Feb 11 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | — | — | 60–100 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil reaches 60F; does not transplant well. Succession sow every 2 weeks. |
| Green Bean | — | Jan 21 – Feb 4 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Dec 10 – Dec 24 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | — | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Dec 10 – Dec 24 | — | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | — | Oct 7 – Oct 21 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | — | Nov 4 – Nov 11 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | — | Dec 31 – Jan 7 | Oct 14 – Oct 21 | 55–80 days | Start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost; transplant out 2-3 weeks before last frost (hardens off to light frost). |
| Cauliflower | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | — | Jan 7 – Jan 14 | Oct 7 – Oct 14 | 55–85 days | Fussier than broccoli about temperature swings; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost. |
| Cabbage | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | Oct 7 – Oct 21 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Dec 3 – Dec 17 | — | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | — | 90–110 days | Long-season crop best timed to mature after a light fall frost for sweetest flavor; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost. |
| Carrot | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | — | Sep 23 – Oct 7 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | — | Oct 7 – Oct 21 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Dec 17 – Dec 31 | — | Nov 4 – Nov 18 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | — | Oct 7 – Oct 21 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Nov 12 – Nov 26 | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | — | 90–120 days | Start seeds indoors 8-10 weeks before last frost (or use sets/transplants); set out 2-4 weeks before last frost, very cold-tolerant as seedlings. |
| Garlic | — | — | — | Nov 18 – Dec 2 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | — | — | 70–120 days | Plant seed potatoes 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked and is above 45F; light frost on emerging foliage is usually tolerated. |
| Sweet Potato | — | — | Feb 4 – Feb 18 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Dec 24 – Jan 7 | — | 730–1095 days | Perennial; plant crowns 2-4 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. Takes 2-3 years to full production. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basil | Dec 10 – Dec 17 | — | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | — | 50–70 days | Very frost/cold sensitive; start indoors 5-6 weeks before last frost, transplant only after all danger of frost (1-2 weeks after) and nights stay warm. |
| Cilantro | — | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | — | Oct 21 – Nov 4 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Nov 26 – Dec 10 | — | Jan 7 – Jan 14 | — | 70–90 days | Slow to germinate; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant 1-2 weeks before last frost (biennial, cold-tolerant). |
| Dill | — | Dec 31 – Jan 14 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Nov 26 – Dec 10 | — | Jan 21 – Jan 28 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Nov 26 – Dec 10 | — | Jan 21 – Jan 28 | — | 85–95 days | Perennial herb, slow from seed; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/after last frost. |
| Crop | Start indoors | Direct sow | Transplant | Fall planting | Maturity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sunflower | — | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Dec 24 – Dec 31 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | — | 60–70 days | Frost-tender; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost, or start indoors 3-4 weeks early for earlier blooms. |
| Marigold | Dec 10 – Dec 24 | — | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Dec 24 – Dec 31 | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | Jan 28 – Feb 4 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Jan 28 – Feb 11 | — | 90–120 days | Plant tubers 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil is warm (60F+); very frost-sensitive. |
Date ranges are estimates based on university extension guidelines and this city's NOAA frost normals — not a guarantee. Scroll to see all columns on narrow screens.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the last frost in Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the SOUTH PHOENIX, AZ US station, the last spring frost in Ahwatukee Foothills typically falls around January 21. A cautious gardener might wait until February 20 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while December 24 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ in fall?
The first fall frost in Ahwatukee Foothills typically arrives around December 16. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 29; in milder years it can hold off until January 9.
How long is the growing season in Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ?
Ahwatukee Foothills's average frost-free growing season is about 331 days, running from the typical last spring frost (January 21) to the typical first fall frost (December 16).
What USDA hardiness zone is Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ in?
Ahwatukee Foothills, AZ is in USDA plant hardiness zone 10a, per the USDA's 2023 Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.