Frost Dates & Planting Calendar for Florence, AZ
Plan your garden around Florence, 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 30
Safe Feb 24
Typical Jan 30
Risky Dec 27
First Fall Frost
December 12
Safe Nov 22
Typical Dec 12
Risky Jan 12
Growing Season
319 days
Typical last frost to typical first frost.
USDA Hardiness Zone
Zone 9a
Subtropical to frost-free — heat, not cold, is the main limit on what you can grow.
Data: NOAA station FLORENCE, AZ US, 0.6 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 | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | — | 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 21 – Dec 5 | — | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | 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 21 – Dec 5 | — | Feb 13 – Feb 20 | — | 65–85 days | Warm-season crop, similar timing to pepper; needs consistently warm soil (65F+) to transplant. |
| Cucumber | Jan 2 – Jan 9 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | — | 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 | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | — | 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 | Jan 2 – Jan 9 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | — | 80–110 days | Long season; direct sow after soil warms, or start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost in short-season climates. |
| Pumpkin | — | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | — | 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 | Jan 2 – Jan 9 | — | Feb 13 – Feb 20 | — | 70–90 days | Needs warm soil (65F+); start indoors 3-4 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-3 weeks after last frost. |
| Cantaloupe | Jan 2 – Jan 9 | — | Feb 13 – Feb 20 | — | 70–90 days | Same warm-soil requirements as watermelon; avoid disturbing roots when transplanting. |
| Corn | — | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | — | — | 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 30 – Feb 13 | — | — | 50–65 days | Direct sow at last frost to 2 weeks after, once soil has warmed; frost-tender, do not rush. |
| Pea | — | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | — | — | 55–70 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Lettuce | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Oct 17 – Oct 31 | 45–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. Also transplantable from indoor starts. |
| Spinach | — | Dec 19 – Jan 2 | — | Oct 17 – Oct 31 | 40–50 days | Very cold-hardy; direct sow 4-6 weeks before last frost as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Kale | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Oct 3 – Oct 17 | 50–65 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost or start indoors for earlier transplants. |
| Arugula | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Oct 31 – Nov 7 | 30–40 days | Fast-growing, cold-tolerant green; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, succession sow every 2-3 weeks. |
| Swiss Chard | — | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | — | 50–60 days | Fairly cold-hardy; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost. Tolerates light frost in fall too. |
| Broccoli | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | — | Jan 9 – Jan 16 | Oct 10 – Oct 17 | 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 12 – Dec 26 | — | Jan 16 – Jan 23 | Oct 3 – Oct 10 | 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 12 – Dec 26 | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | Oct 3 – Oct 17 | 60–100 days | Cold-hardy; start indoors 5-7 weeks before last frost, transplant 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Brussels Sprouts | Dec 12 – Dec 26 | — | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | 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 | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Sep 19 – Oct 3 | 60–80 days | Direct sow only (does not transplant); sow 2-4 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Beet | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Oct 3 – Oct 17 | 50–65 days | Direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost; tolerates light frost. |
| Radish | — | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | — | Oct 31 – Nov 14 | 22–30 days | Very fast and cold-hardy; direct sow 3-5 weeks before last frost, as soon as soil can be worked. |
| Turnip | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | Oct 3 – Oct 17 | 40–60 days | Cold-hardy; direct sow 2-4 weeks before last frost. |
| Onion | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | 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 14 – Nov 28 | 240–270 days | Fall-planted crop only; not planted in spring in most climates. |
| Potato | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | — | 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 13 – Feb 27 | — | 90–120 days | Set out slips 2-4 weeks after last frost once soil is thoroughly warm (65F+); very frost/cold sensitive. |
| Asparagus | — | — | Jan 2 – Jan 16 | — | 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 19 – Dec 26 | — | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | — | 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 | — | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | Oct 17 – Oct 31 | 45–70 days | Cool-season, bolts in heat; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through spring. |
| Parsley | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | Jan 16 – Jan 23 | — | 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 | — | Jan 9 – Jan 23 | — | — | 40–60 days | Taprooted, does not transplant well; direct sow 1-3 weeks before last frost, succession sow through summer. |
| Oregano | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | Jan 30 – Feb 6 | — | 80–90 days | Perennial herb; start indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost, transplant around/just after last frost date. |
| Thyme | Dec 5 – Dec 19 | — | Jan 30 – Feb 6 | — | 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 | — | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | — | 70–100 days | Direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed; taprooted, resents transplanting. |
| Zinnia | Jan 2 – Jan 9 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | — | 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 19 – Jan 2 | — | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | — | 45–60 days | Frost-tender; start indoors 4-6 weeks before last frost, transplant after all frost danger has passed. |
| Cosmos | Jan 2 – Jan 9 | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | Feb 6 – Feb 13 | — | 60–90 days | Easy from direct seed 1-3 weeks after last frost; can also start indoors 3-4 weeks early. |
| Nasturtium | — | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | — | 50–65 days | Frost-tender, resents root disturbance; direct sow 1-3 weeks after last frost once soil has warmed. |
| Dahlia | — | — | Feb 6 – Feb 20 | — | 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 Florence, AZ?
Based on 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals for the FLORENCE, AZ US station, the last spring frost in Florence typically falls around January 30. A cautious gardener might wait until February 24 (only a 10% chance of a later frost), while December 27 marks an earlier, higher-risk planting date.
When is the first frost in Florence, AZ in fall?
The first fall frost in Florence typically arrives around December 12. To stay safe, assume frost could start as early as November 22; in milder years it can hold off until January 12.
How long is the growing season in Florence, AZ?
Florence's average frost-free growing season is about 319 days, running from the typical last spring frost (January 30) to the typical first fall frost (December 12).
What USDA hardiness zone is Florence, AZ in?
Florence, AZ is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9a, 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.