In Phoenix, the average last spring frost is Jan 21 and the average first fall frost is Dec 15, a growing season of about 328 days (zone 10a). Start tomatoes indoors around Dec 10 and move them outside from Feb 4. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Oct 6, lettuce around Oct 20, spinach around Oct 27 and radishes around Nov 10.
Phoenix at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Jan 21 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 15 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 328 days
- Hardiness zone
- 10a (USDA)
- Weather stations
- South Phoenix, AZ; Laveen 3 SSE, AZ; and Tempe ASU, AZ, 1991 to 2020 normals. GrowSmart's dates are the median of these stations, to within 3 days
An average frost date means frost is still possible after it in about half of years. GrowSmart times tender crops like tomatoes, peppers and basil after this date, not on it.
What to plant in Phoenix this month (January)
- Transplant lettuce: Jan 7
- Direct sow carrots: Jan 7
- Start cucumbers indoors: Jan 7
- Start zucchini indoors: Jan 7
- Start winter squash indoors: Jan 7
- Direct sow beets: Jan 14
- Transplant kale: Jan 14
- Transplant broccoli: Jan 14
- Transplant cabbage: Jan 14
- Direct sow potatoes: Jan 14
- Transplant onions: Jan 21
- Transplant cucumbers: Jan 28
- Transplant zucchini: Jan 28
- Transplant winter squash: Jan 28
- Direct sow beans: Jan 28
Coming up in early February: transplant tomatoes (Feb 4), transplant peppers (Feb 4), transplant eggplant (Feb 4) and transplant basil (Feb 4).
What to plant in Phoenix this month (February)
- Transplant tomatoes: Feb 4
- Transplant peppers: Feb 4
- Transplant eggplant: Feb 4
- Transplant basil: Feb 4
What to plant in Phoenix this month (March)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Phoenix in March. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 6.
What to plant in Phoenix this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Phoenix in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 6.
What to plant in Phoenix this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Phoenix in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 6.
What to plant in Phoenix this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Phoenix in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 6.
What to plant in Phoenix this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Phoenix in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 6.
What to plant in Phoenix this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Phoenix in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 6.
What to plant in Phoenix this month (September)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Phoenix in September. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Oct 6.
What to plant in Phoenix this month (October)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Oct 6
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Oct 6
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Oct 20
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Oct 27
Coming up in early November: plant garlic (Nov 3), sow radishes for a fall harvest (Nov 10) and start onions indoors (Nov 12).
What to plant in Phoenix this month (November)
- Plant garlic: Nov 3
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Nov 10
- Start onions indoors: Nov 12
Coming up in early December: start tomatoes indoors (Dec 10), start peppers indoors (Dec 10), start eggplant indoors (Dec 10) and start lettuce indoors (Dec 10).
What to plant in Phoenix this month (December)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Dec 10
- Start peppers indoors: Dec 10
- Start eggplant indoors: Dec 10
- Start lettuce indoors: Dec 10
- Start kale indoors: Dec 17
- Start broccoli indoors: Dec 17
- Start cabbage indoors: Dec 17
- Start basil indoors: Dec 24
- Direct sow spinach: Dec 31
- Direct sow peas: Dec 31
- Direct sow radishes: Dec 31
Coming up in early January: transplant lettuce (Jan 7), direct sow carrots (Jan 7), start cucumbers indoors (Jan 7), start zucchini indoors (Jan 7), start winter squash indoors (Jan 7), direct sow beets (Jan 14), transplant kale (Jan 14), transplant broccoli (Jan 14), transplant cabbage (Jan 14) and direct sow potatoes (Jan 14).
Phoenix planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Dec 10 | Transplant Feb 4 | From Apr 23 |
| Peppers | Dec 10 | Transplant Feb 4 | From Apr 17 |
| Eggplant | Dec 10 | Transplant Feb 4 | From Apr 20 |
| Basil | Dec 24 | Transplant Feb 4 | From Mar 18 |
| Onions (from seed) | Nov 12 | Transplant Jan 21 | From May 1 |
| Lettuce | Dec 10 | Transplant Jan 7Fall: direct sow Oct 20 | From Feb 16Fall: from Nov 29 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Dec 31Fall: direct sow Oct 27 | From Feb 9Fall: from Dec 6 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Dec 31Fall: direct sow Oct 6 | From Mar 1Fall: from Dec 5 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Dec 31Fall: direct sow Nov 10 | From Jan 25Fall: from Dec 5 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Jan 7 | From Mar 18 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Jan 14 | From Mar 10 |
| Kale | Dec 17 | Transplant Jan 14Fall: direct sow Oct 6 | From Mar 10Fall: from Nov 30 |
| Broccoli | Dec 17 | Transplant Jan 14 | From Mar 20 |
| Cabbage | Dec 17 | Transplant Jan 14 | From Mar 25 |
| Cucumbers | Jan 7 | Transplant Jan 28 | From Mar 24 |
| Zucchini | Jan 7 | Transplant Jan 28 | From Mar 19 |
| Winter squash | Jan 7 | Transplant Jan 28 | From Apr 28 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Jan 28 | From Mar 24 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Jan 14 | From Apr 4 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Nov 3 | Around Apr 15 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Phoenix's average frost dates. Tomatoes are indeterminate, lettuce is looseleaf and beans are bush beans. Harvest dates are when the first picking is usually ready.
Fall planting in Phoenix
GrowSmart schedules garlic in Phoenix around Nov 3, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 15, with harvest around Apr 15.
Shallots: GrowSmart's plan has you plant shallot sets in fall in zone 5 and warmer, and in spring in colder zones.
Cool-season crops GrowSmart schedules for a fall harvest in Phoenix:
- Peas: sow Oct 6, ready from about Dec 5
- Kale: sow Oct 6, ready from about Nov 30
- Lettuce: sow Oct 20, ready from about Nov 29
- Spinach: sow Oct 27, ready from about Dec 6
- Radishes: sow Nov 10, ready from about Dec 5
Nearby planting calendars
Phoenix planting questions
When is the last frost in Phoenix?
The average last spring frost in Phoenix is Jan 21, and the average first fall frost is Dec 15, from 1991 to 2020 climate normals at 3 nearby weather stations. Frost is still possible after the spring date in about half of years.
When should I start tomato seeds in Phoenix?
Start tomatoes indoors around Dec 10, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Feb 4, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Phoenix in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in Phoenix. Sow peas and kale around Oct 6, lettuce around Oct 20, spinach around Oct 27 and radishes around Nov 10, and plant garlic around Nov 3.