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When to plant in Sierra Vista, AZ

USDA Zone 8b

Here are the average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and a month-by-month planting calendar for Sierra Vista, Arizona — all computed from Sierra Vista's nearest NOAA weather station.

In zone 8b, Sierra Vista supports a wide range of perennials year-round; the frost dates above are what set your annual vegetable timing.

Station · SIERRA VISTA · 4.5 km
Last spring frost
April 5
50% chance · 32°F
First fall frost
November 9
50% chance · 32°F
Growing season
218 days
frost-free
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Frost calendar for Sierra VistaA year-band showing 32°F frost risk from January to December for Sierra Vista: last spring frost around April 5, first fall frost around November 9, about 218 frost-free days between.
Shaded months carry frost risk; the clear span is the average frost-free season.

The average last spring frost in Sierra Vista is now 20 days later than in the 1981–2010 normals. See how frost dates are shifting nationwide →

Frost probability

SIERRA VISTA · 1991–2020

The 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 Sierra Vista’s own odds, recorded at SIERRA VISTA.

Frost-probability curves for Sierra VistaProbability of the last spring frost and first fall frost by date at 32°F. The last spring frost is most likely around April 5 and the first fall frost around November 9, giving about 218 frost-free days.
Last spring frostFirst fall frostbold = 32°F · thin = 28°F / 36°F · dot = 50% date · band = 10–90% window
ThresholdSPRING 10%SPRING 50%SPRING 90%FALL 10%FALL 50%FALL 90%
36°FMay 4Apr 20Apr 5Oct 15Oct 30Nov 12
32°FApr 21Apr 5Mar 15Oct 23Nov 9Nov 23
28°FApr 5Mar 15Feb 21Nov 4Nov 21Dec 5

Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.

What to plant now

TODAY · JULY 19
Fall sowin 1 days
Brussels Sprouts
July 20August 3
Fall sowin 15 days
Rutabaga
August 3August 17

Add these crops to your calendar (.ics) ↓

Full-year planting calendar

Start indoorsTransplantDirect sowFall sow

Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Sierra Vista, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.

Nearby weather stations

3 within 19 km · complete 32°F normals

When 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.

SIERRA VISTA
Primary
5 km · 1404 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 5
FALL
Nov 9
FT HUACHUCA PIONEER AIRFIELD
12 km · 1453 m elevation
SPRING
Mar 16
FALL
Nov 21
ELGIN 5 S
19 km · 1466 m elevation
SPRING
Apr 18
FALL
Nov 1

Sierra Vista planting FAQ

When is the last spring frost in Sierra Vista, AZ?

Sierra Vista's average last spring frost falls near April 5 — the 50% mark at 32°F in the 1991–2020 normals. Hold tender transplants until the risk has passed, then plant out.

When is the first fall frost in Sierra Vista, AZ?

In Sierra Vista, the first 32°F freeze of fall lands around November 9 on average. Time your last harvests and any season-extension cover before it.

What hardiness zone is Sierra Vista in?

Sierra Vista is in USDA hardiness zone 8b. In zone 8b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.

How long is the growing season in Sierra Vista?

Sierra Vista has about 218 frost-free days — a long growing season — between the average last spring frost (April 5) and first fall frost (November 9).

When should I plant tomatoes in Sierra Vista?

For Sierra Vista, sow tomatoes indoors about February 8–February 22 and move the seedlings out around April 12, after the last spring frost.

Planting reminders

Never miss a window in Sierra Vista

An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Sierra Vista’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.

Nearby cities

8 within reach

Frost dates recorded at SIERRA VISTA, 5 km from the city center · 1991–2020 NOAA climate normals · zone from the USDA/PRISM 2023 map. How we compute this.

Cite this page
BlissGarden. "When to Plant in Sierra Vista, AZ — Frost Dates & Zone 8b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00027880. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/arizona/sierra-vista.