Fall in zone 9aPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85346 (Quartzsite, 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, Quartzsite, AZ (5 miles away).
- Average last spring frostJan 2850% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)315 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9a20 to 25°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
Soil temperature now
2-inch depth
80°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 75°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Yuma 27 ENE (53 mi), Ford Dry Lake (54 mi).
4-inch depth
82°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 79°F, as of Oct 18, 2:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Yuma 27 ENE (53 mi), Ford Dry Lake (54 mi).
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 85346 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 82°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically 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 Mar 15 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
- Lettuce: fall sowing Sep 27–Oct 25
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 11–Nov 1
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 1
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 25
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Brussels sprouts: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 25–Nov 8
- Onion (bulbing): start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Leek: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 25–Nov 22
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 25–Nov 22
- Celery: start seeds indoors Nov 5–19
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 6: skip heavy pruning in the 6–8 weeks before it, because new growth may not harden off in time.
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 31 (prior Dec) |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Jan 28 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Feb 24 |
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) | Nov 22 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 6 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 26 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Feb 17 | Nov 27 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Jan 28 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 7 | Dec 21 |
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 85346
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Jan 28) and first fall frost (Dec 6). 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 | Dec 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 3–17 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 3–17 | Jan 7–28 (transplant) Dec 31–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (transplant) Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 17–Jan 7 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 28 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 3–17 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 17–31 | Jan 14–Feb 4 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 7–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Dec 24–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 3–31 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 5–19 | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 17–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 5–19 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 17–31 (transplant) | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Aug 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 18–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Dec 31–Jan 7 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 17–31 | Feb 11–25 (transplant) Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 5–19 | Feb 4–11 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 17–31 | Feb 4–18 (transplant) Feb 4–18 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 7–28 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Jan 28–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (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: Quartzsite, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00026865), elevation 875 ft, 5.5 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: S (standard, 24+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ehrenberg 2 E, AZ | 18 mi | Jan 4 | Dec 19 |
| Bouse, AZ | 24 mi | Feb 18 | Nov 28 |
| Blythe, CA | 25 mi | Jan 25 | Dec 12 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 45 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85346
When is the last frost in 85346?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85346 is January 28. For a more cautious planting date, use February 24, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85346?
The average first fall freeze is December 6. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 22.
What hardiness zone is 85346?
ZIP 85346 is in USDA zone 9a (20 to 25°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 85346 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
85334 Ehrenberg 85344 Parker 85371 Poston 85348 Vicksburg 85325 Bouse 92225 Blythe 85328 Cibola 92242 Big River
Other ZIP codes in La Paz County
85325 85328 85334 85344 85348 85357 85371 All La Paz 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.