When to plant in Cottonwood, AZ
USDA Zone 8bCottonwood, Arizona frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
In zone 8b, Cottonwood supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.
Frost probability
TUZIGOOT · 1991–2020The date the last spring and first fall frost occur, by threshold and probability. A 90% date is later in spring — and earlier in fall — than a 10% date; the 50% · 32°F row is what most gardeners plan around. These are Cottonwood’s own odds, recorded at TUZIGOOT.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | May 6 | Apr 17 | Mar 29 | Oct 17 | Oct 31 | Nov 12 |
| 32°F | Apr 21 | Mar 30 | Mar 9 | Oct 25 | Nov 10 | Nov 23 |
| 28°F | Mar 31 | Mar 5 | Feb 14 | Nov 5 | Nov 20 | Dec 5 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Cottonwood, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 21 km · complete 32°F normalsWhen stations disagree by more than a few days, that spread is real microclimate variation — elevation, water, urban heat. Judge which station best matches your own yard.
Cottonwood planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Cottonwood, AZ?
Plan for the last spring frost in Cottonwood around March 30 (the date it has a 50% chance of a 32°F freeze). Anything frost-sensitive should go out after it.
When is the first fall frost in Cottonwood, AZ?
The first fall frost in Cottonwood typically arrives around November 10 (50% probability at 32°F). Harvest or protect frost-sensitive crops before then.
What hardiness zone is Cottonwood in?
Cottonwood is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Cottonwood?
Cottonwood has about 225 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (March 30) and first fall frost (November 10).
When should I plant tomatoes in Cottonwood?
For Cottonwood, sow tomatoes indoors about February 2–February 16 and move the seedlings out around April 6, after the last spring frost.
Never miss a window in Cottonwood
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Cottonwood’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Verde Village · 4 km
- Camp Verde · 23 km
- Prescott Valley · 35 km
- Chino Valley · 39 km
- Prescott · 46 km
- Flagstaff · 59 km
- Payson · 83 km
- New River · 97 km
Frost dates recorded at TUZIGOOT, 4 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Cottonwood, AZ — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00028904. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/arizona/cottonwood.