In Tucson, the average last spring frost is Feb 20 and the average first fall frost is Dec 5, a growing season of about 288 days (zone 9b). Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 9 and move them outside from Mar 6. For a fall and winter garden, sow peas and kale around Sep 26, lettuce around Oct 10, spinach around Oct 17 and radishes around Oct 31.
Tucson at a glance
- Last spring frost
- Feb 20 (average)
- First fall frost
- Dec 5 (average)
- Frost-free season
- About 288 days
- Hardiness zone
- 9b (USDA)
- Weather stations
- Tucson WFO, AZ; Tucson Camp Ave Exp, AZ; and Tohono Chul, 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 Tucson this month (January)
- Start tomatoes indoors: Jan 9
- Start peppers indoors: Jan 9
- Start eggplant indoors: Jan 9
- Start lettuce indoors: Jan 9
- Start kale indoors: Jan 16
- Start broccoli indoors: Jan 16
- Start cabbage indoors: Jan 16
- Start basil indoors: Jan 23
- Direct sow spinach: Jan 30
- Direct sow peas: Jan 30
- Direct sow radishes: Jan 30
Coming up in early February: transplant lettuce (Feb 6), direct sow carrots (Feb 6), start cucumbers indoors (Feb 6), start zucchini indoors (Feb 6), start winter squash indoors (Feb 6), direct sow beets (Feb 13), transplant kale (Feb 13), transplant broccoli (Feb 13), transplant cabbage (Feb 13) and direct sow potatoes (Feb 13).
What to plant in Tucson this month (February)
- Transplant lettuce: Feb 6
- Direct sow carrots: Feb 6
- Start cucumbers indoors: Feb 6
- Start zucchini indoors: Feb 6
- Start winter squash indoors: Feb 6
- Direct sow beets: Feb 13
- Transplant kale: Feb 13
- Transplant broccoli: Feb 13
- Transplant cabbage: Feb 13
- Direct sow potatoes: Feb 13
- Transplant onions: Feb 20
- Transplant cucumbers: Feb 27
- Transplant zucchini: Feb 27
- Transplant winter squash: Feb 27
- Direct sow beans: Feb 27
Coming up in early March: transplant tomatoes (Mar 6), transplant peppers (Mar 6), transplant eggplant (Mar 6) and transplant basil (Mar 6).
What to plant in Tucson this month (March)
- Transplant tomatoes: Mar 6
- Transplant peppers: Mar 6
- Transplant eggplant: Mar 6
- Transplant basil: Mar 6
What to plant in Tucson this month (April)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Tucson in April. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Tucson this month (May)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Tucson in May. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Tucson this month (June)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Tucson in June. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Tucson this month (July)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Tucson in July. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Tucson this month (August)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Tucson in August. Next up: sow peas for a fall harvest on Sep 26.
What to plant in Tucson this month (September)
- Sow peas for a fall harvest: Sep 26
- Sow kale for a fall harvest: Sep 26
Coming up in early October: sow lettuce for a fall harvest (Oct 10).
What to plant in Tucson this month (October)
- Sow lettuce for a fall harvest: Oct 10
- Sow spinach for a fall harvest: Oct 17
- Plant garlic: Oct 24
- Sow radishes for a fall harvest: Oct 31
What to plant in Tucson this month (November)
Nothing is scheduled to be sown or planted in Tucson in November. Next up: start onions indoors on Dec 12.
What to plant in Tucson this month (December)
- Start onions indoors: Dec 12
Coming up in early January: start tomatoes indoors (Jan 9), start peppers indoors (Jan 9), start eggplant indoors (Jan 9) and start lettuce indoors (Jan 9).
Tucson planting calendar
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomatoes | Jan 9 | Transplant Mar 6 | From May 23 |
| Peppers | Jan 9 | Transplant Mar 6 | From May 17 |
| Eggplant | Jan 9 | Transplant Mar 6 | From May 20 |
| Basil | Jan 23 | Transplant Mar 6 | From Apr 17 |
| Onions (from seed) | Dec 12 | Transplant Feb 20 | From May 31 |
| Lettuce | Jan 9 | Transplant Feb 6Fall: direct sow Oct 10 | From Mar 18Fall: from Nov 19 |
| Spinach | n/a | Direct sow Jan 30Fall: direct sow Oct 17 | From Mar 11Fall: from Nov 26 |
| Peas | n/a | Direct sow Jan 30Fall: direct sow Sep 26 | From Mar 31Fall: from Nov 25 |
| Radishes | n/a | Direct sow Jan 30Fall: direct sow Oct 31 | From Feb 24Fall: from Nov 25 |
| Carrots | n/a | Direct sow Feb 6 | From Apr 17 |
| Beets | n/a | Direct sow Feb 13 | From Apr 9 |
| Kale | Jan 16 | Transplant Feb 13Fall: direct sow Sep 26 | From Apr 9Fall: from Nov 20 |
| Broccoli | Jan 16 | Transplant Feb 13 | From Apr 19 |
| Cabbage | Jan 16 | Transplant Feb 13 | From Apr 24 |
| Cucumbers | Feb 6 | Transplant Feb 27 | From Apr 23 |
| Zucchini | Feb 6 | Transplant Feb 27 | From Apr 18 |
| Winter squash | Feb 6 | Transplant Feb 27 | From May 28 |
| Beans | n/a | Direct sow Feb 27 | From Apr 23 |
| Potatoes | n/a | Direct sow Feb 13 | From May 4 |
| Garlic | n/a | Plant cloves around Oct 24 | Around May 15 the next year |
Dates are for one planting of each crop, from Tucson'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 Tucson
GrowSmart schedules garlic in Tucson around Oct 24, six weeks before the average first fall frost of Dec 5, with harvest around May 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 Tucson:
- Peas: sow Sep 26, ready from about Nov 25
- Kale: sow Sep 26, ready from about Nov 20
- Lettuce: sow Oct 10, ready from about Nov 19
- Spinach: sow Oct 17, ready from about Nov 26
- Radishes: sow Oct 31, ready from about Nov 25
Nearby planting calendars
Tucson planting questions
When is the last frost in Tucson?
The average last spring frost in Tucson is Feb 20, and the average first fall frost is Dec 5, 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 Tucson?
Start tomatoes indoors around Jan 9, 8 weeks before moving them outside around Mar 6, which is two weeks after the average last frost.
What can I plant in Tucson in fall?
Fall and winter is a main growing season in Tucson. Sow peas and kale around Sep 26, lettuce around Oct 10, spinach around Oct 17 and radishes around Oct 31, and plant garlic around Oct 24.