Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85361 (Surprise, 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, Wittmann 1SE, AZ (6 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 550% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)306 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
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Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 85361, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
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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
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 85361 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 Mar 23 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 Oct 2–30
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 16–Nov 6
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 6
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 16–Nov 13
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 16–30
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Oct 2–30
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
- Radish: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 13
- Garlic: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 27
- Shallot: fall sowing Oct 30–Nov 27
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 11: 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) | Jan 6 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 5 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 3 |
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 20 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 11 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Jan 2 (next year) |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 4 | Nov 26 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 5 | Dec 11 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 15 | Dec 27 |
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 85361
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 5) and first fall frost (Dec 11). 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 11–25 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | Aug 14–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 11–25 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 11–25 | Jan 15–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 8–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–Nov 6 (transplant) Oct 2–30 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 25–Jan 15 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–Nov 6 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 11–25 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 11–25 | Jan 8–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 16 (transplant) Sep 4–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) | Sep 4–Oct 2 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 13–27 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 11 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 11–25 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 8–22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Jan 22–Feb 12 (transplant) Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 8–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 15–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 1–Feb 12 (sow outdoors) | Oct 30–Nov 13 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 8–29 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 11–Jan 8 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 13–27 | Dec 25–Jan 8 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 25–Jan 22 (sow outdoors) | Oct 2–16 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 13–27 | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 30–Nov 27 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 25–Jan 8 (transplant) | Oct 30–Nov 27 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Aug 21–Sep 4 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Feb 26–Mar 12 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Feb 26–Mar 19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 8–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 8–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 18–Oct 2 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 8–15 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 8–15 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 8–15 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 19–Mar 5 (transplant) Feb 19–Mar 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 13–27 | Feb 12–19 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 25–Jan 8 | Feb 12–26 (transplant) Feb 12–26 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 22–Feb 19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Nov 27–Dec 11 | Jan 22–Feb 5 (transplant) Jan 15–Feb 5 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | Oct 16–30 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 5–19 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 8–22 (transplant) | Oct 2–30 (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: Wittmann 1SE, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00029464), elevation 1,683 ft, 6.3 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wickenburg, AZ | 17 mi | Mar 7 | Nov 20 |
| Youngtown, AZ | 22 mi | Jan 20 | Dec 15 |
| Castle Hot Springs, AZ | 22 mi | Jan 15 | Dec 22 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 54 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85361
When is the last frost in 85361?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85361 is February 5. For a more cautious planting date, use March 3, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85361?
The average first fall freeze is December 11. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 20.
What hardiness zone is 85361?
ZIP 85361 is in USDA zone 9b (25 to 30°F average coldest winter night), per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map ZIP listing.
What is the soil temperature in 85361 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
85387 Surprise 85388 Surprise 85374 Surprise 85396 Buckeye 85355 Citrus Park 85375 Sun City West 85342 Morristown 85390 Wickenburg
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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Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
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- Weekly yard to-dos
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.