Fall in zone 10aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85259 (Scottsdale, AZ)
Average last spring and first fall frost dates with 10%, 50% and 90% odds, from NOAA's 1991–2020 climate normals for the nearest weather station, Fountain Hills, AZ (6 miles away).
Freezes are uncommon here
NOAA's normals for this station show a 32°F night in about 63% of years (about 4 freezing night(s) a year on average). The dates below describe freeze timing for the station's record; in many years there may be no 32°F freeze at all.
- Average last spring frostJan 650% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)356 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone10a30 to 35°F avg. coldest night
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This week in your yard
As of Oct 18, 2026, from your frost dates, zone and soil temperature. Lawn timing · Vegetables · Pruning · Plants
Freezes are uncommon here, so frost-based timing is rough. Local extension calendars for frost-free areas use months.
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
4-inch depth
No soil station with a fresh reading within 62 miles.
Fall: Texas A&M AgriLife times fall pre-emergent (for winter weeds such as annual bluegrass) to soil cooling to about 70°F for several days. The 50–55°F band is the spring trigger. Always read and follow the product label.
7-day forecast and frost risk
The latest National Weather Service 7-day forecast and any Frost Advisory or Freeze Warning for 85259 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
No soil reading near this ZIP. Typical extension timing for your region: spring late January to February; fall September to October.
Fertilizer window
Lawn region: Arid Southwest (low desert). Timing only; always follow the product label.
- Bermudagrass (warm-season): Spring: Several weeks after the lawn is fully green (April–May) (about Feb 21 here, using green-up about 3–4 weeks after your average last frost); Summer: Every 4–6 weeks through mid-August (heaviest feeder of the group); Late: Light, low-nitrogen/high-potassium feeding about 4 weeks before first frost, or skip. Avoid: Heavy late-fall nitrogen (linked to spring dead spot).
- Perennial ryegrass (cool-season): Early fall: September; Late fall: October–November; Overseeded Bermuda: Light feeding once the winter rye is established, if needed. Avoid: Summer feeding.
Plant now
- Kale: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Kale: fall transplant Oct 5–Nov 2
- Collards: fall sowing Sep 21–Oct 19
- Collards: fall transplant Oct 5–Nov 2
- Broccoli: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Cabbage: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Cauliflower: fall transplant Sep 21–Oct 19
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Oct 14–28
- Carrot: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Pea (garden, snap, snow): fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Oct 14–28
- Leek: start seeds indoors Oct 14–28
- Bean, bush (snap): fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Cucumber: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Summer squash / zucchini: fall sowing Oct 5–19
- Celery: start seeds indoors Oct 14–28
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Pepper (sweet and hot): start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Eggplant: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Lettuce: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 16
- Lettuce: fall transplant Nov 2–23
- Spinach: fall sowing Nov 2–23
- Broccoli: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Cabbage: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Cauliflower: start seeds indoors Oct 28–Nov 11
- Kohlrabi: fall sowing Oct 19–Nov 2
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Nov 2–16
- Arugula: fall sowing Nov 2–30
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Nov 2–16
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Spring-flowering shrubs are pruned right after their flowers fade, not by date. See the pruning guide.
Last spring frost odds
| Chance of a 32°F freeze after this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 90% (early: most years still freeze after this) | Dec 14 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 6 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 11 |
Most gardeners plant frost-tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, basil) after the 50% date, and closer to the 10% date for less risk.
First fall frost odds
| Chance the first 32°F freeze has happened by this date | Date |
|---|---|
| 10% (early: 1 year in 10 freezes this soon) | Dec 4 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 28 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 27 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Jan 31 | Dec 14 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 6 | Dec 28 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 9 | Jan 8 (next year) |
n/a means NOAA did not publish a date at that threshold for this station (usually because it rarely gets that cold).
Vegetable planting calendar for 85259
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 6) and first fall frost (Dec 28). Half of years have a frost after the spring date, so give tender crops (tomatoes, peppers, squash) some slack.
| Crop | Start indoors | Spring planting | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Nov 11–25 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | Aug 31–Sep 28 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Nov 11–25 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Nov 11–25 | Dec 16–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 9–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–23 (transplant) Oct 19–Nov 16 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Nov 25–Dec 16 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–23 (sowing) |
| Kale | Nov 11–25 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) Dec 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (transplant) Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Collards | Nov 11–25 | Dec 9–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 9–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–Nov 2 (transplant) Sep 21–Oct 19 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) | Sep 21–Oct 19 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Oct 14–28 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 7–28 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Nov 11–25 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) Dec 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 9–23 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 9–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–30 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Dec 23–Jan 13 (transplant) Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 9–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Dec 16–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 2–Jan 13 (sow outdoors) | Nov 16–30 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 9–30 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Dec 16–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Nov 11–Dec 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Oct 14–28 | Nov 25–Dec 9 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Nov 25–Dec 23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 19–Nov 2 (sowing) |
| Leek | Oct 14–28 | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Nov 16–Dec 14 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Nov 25–Dec 9 (transplant) | Nov 16–Dec 14 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Sep 7–21 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Jan 27–Feb 10 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Jan 27–Feb 17 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 9–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 9–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | Oct 5–19 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 9–16 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 9–16 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 9–16 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Jan 20–Feb 3 (transplant) Jan 20–Feb 3 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Oct 14–28 | Jan 13–20 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Nov 25–Dec 9 | Jan 13–27 (transplant) Jan 13–27 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Dec 23–Jan 20 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Oct 28–Nov 11 | Dec 23–Jan 6 (transplant) Dec 16–Jan 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 6–20 (sow outdoors) | Nov 2–16 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 6–20 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 9–23 (transplant) | Oct 19–Nov 16 (transplant) |
Typical ranges from university extension planting calendars, adjusted to your frost dates. Probabilities, not guarantees. Fall windows that would overlap spring planting are left out, as are fall crops of frost-tender plants where the frost-free season is under 210 days.
Where these numbers come from
Station: Fountain Hills, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00023190), elevation 1,580 ft, 5.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scottsdale Muni AP, AZ | 6 mi | Jan 6 | Dec 26 |
| Pinnacle Peak, AZ | 9 mi | Jan 27 | Dec 21 |
| Tempe Asu, AZ | 14 mi | Feb 13 | Dec 5 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 38 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85259
When is the last frost in 85259?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85259 is January 6. For a more cautious planting date, use February 11, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85259?
The average first fall freeze is December 28. In 1 year in 10 it comes by December 4.
What hardiness zone is 85259?
ZIP 85259 is in USDA zone 10a (30 to 35°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 85259 right now?
This page shows the latest 2-inch and 4-inch soil temperature from the nearest public soil station (USDA SCAN, NOAA USCRN or TexMesonet), or a labeled estimate when no station is close, against the 50–55°F spring pre-emergent band.
Nearby ZIP codes
85268 Fountain Hills 85260 Scottsdale 85255 Scottsdale 85258 Scottsdale 85250 Scottsdale 85256 85254 Phoenix 85253 Paradise Valley
Other ZIP codes in Maricopa County
85003 85004 85006 85007 85008 85009 85012 85013 85014 85015 85016 85017 85018 85019 85020 85021 85022 85023 85024 85026 85027 85028 85029 85031 All Maricopa County frost dates · Arizona frost dates
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- Freeze alerts
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Free. One weekly email plus alerts when your ZIP has a frost or a soil-temperature change worth acting on. After you submit, Kit (our email provider) sends a confirmation email: check your email and click the link to confirm. You aren't subscribed until you do. We collect only your email address and ZIP, sent to Kit to deliver The Dial. Unsubscribe anytime.