When to plant in Maricopa, AZ
USDA Zone 9aMaricopa, Arizona frost dates, USDA zone, and a full-year planting calendar, drawn from the nearest NOAA station and tuned to the local season.
A generous ~274-day season lets Maricopa gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Zone 9a is warm enough that Maricopa can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
The average last spring frost in Maricopa is now 7 days earlier than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →
Frost probability
MARICOPA 4 N · 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 Maricopa’s own odds, recorded at MARICOPA 4 N.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Apr 10 | Mar 12 | Feb 24 | Oct 27 | Nov 14 | Nov 28 |
| 32°F | Mar 15 | Feb 23 | Jan 29 | Nov 10 | Nov 24 | Dec 8 |
| 28°F | Feb 28 | Feb 2 | Dec 31 | Nov 21 | Dec 6 | Dec 23 |
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 Maricopa, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 35 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.
Maricopa planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Maricopa, AZ?
Plan for the last spring frost in Maricopa around February 23 (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 Maricopa, AZ?
Expect Maricopa's first fall frost near November 24 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Maricopa in?
Maricopa is in USDA hardiness zone 9a. In zone 9a, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Maricopa?
There are roughly 274 frost-free days in Maricopa (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 23 to the first fall frost near November 24.
When should I plant tomatoes in Maricopa?
In Maricopa, start tomato seeds indoors around December 29–January 12, then transplant seedlings outdoors around March 2 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Maricopa
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Maricopa’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Sun Lakes · 23 km
- Casa Grande · 27 km
- Chandler · 30 km
- Gilbert · 38 km
- Tempe · 39 km
- Goodyear · 42 km
- Queen Creek · 42 km
- Avondale · 43 km
Frost dates recorded at MARICOPA 4 N, 9 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 Maricopa, AZ — Frost Dates & Zone 9a." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00025270. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/arizona/maricopa.