When to plant in Sun Lakes, AZ
USDA Zone 9bEverything below — frost dates, hardiness zone, and what to plant when in Sun Lakes, Arizona — is derived from the closest NOAA station with complete climate normals.
A generous ~313-day season lets Sun Lakes gardeners direct-sow more and still ripen long-maturity crops like melons and winter squash. Sun Lakes's nearest full-normals station sits about 18 km out, so treat these as a close estimate — local microclimate can nudge your first and last frost. Zone 9b is warm enough that Sun Lakes can grow subtropical perennials, and the short (or absent) frost period barely limits the annual calendar.
Frost probability
CHANDLER HEIGHTS · 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 Sun Lakes’s own odds, recorded at CHANDLER HEIGHTS.
| Threshold | SPRING 10% | SPRING 50% | SPRING 90% | FALL 10% | FALL 50% | FALL 90% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36°F | Mar 11 | Feb 21 | Jan 29 | Nov 12 | Nov 28 | Dec 14 |
| 32°F | Feb 27 | Feb 1 | Jan 2 | Nov 23 | Dec 11 | Jan 1 |
| 28°F | Feb 11 | Jan 8 | Dec 15 | Dec 4 | Dec 26 | Jan 29 |
Download this table as CSV ↓ — every threshold and probability, plus this city’s planting-window dates.
What to plant now
TODAY · JULY 19Nothing new to sow or transplant outdoors in the next few weeks — a seasonal lull. Check the full-year calendar below for the next window.
Full-year planting calendar
Each bar is the exact window to take a planting action in Sun Lakes, drawn to the day from the local frost dates. The dashed line is today.
Nearby weather stations
3 within 24 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.
Sun Lakes planting FAQ
When is the last spring frost in Sun Lakes, AZ?
Plan for the last spring frost in Sun Lakes around February 1 (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 Sun Lakes, AZ?
Expect Sun Lakes's first fall frost near December 11 — a 50% chance of 32°F by that date. Bring in or cover tender crops ahead of it.
What hardiness zone is Sun Lakes in?
Sun Lakes is in USDA hardiness zone 9b. In zone 9b, winters are mild — many tender perennials overwinter here.
How long is the growing season in Sun Lakes?
There are roughly 313 frost-free days in Sun Lakes (a long growing season), running from the average last frost around February 1 to the first fall frost near December 11.
When should I plant tomatoes in Sun Lakes?
In Sun Lakes, start tomato seeds indoors around December 7–December 21, then transplant seedlings outdoors around February 8 once the danger of frost has passed.
Never miss a window in Sun Lakes
An email when it’s time to start seeds, transplant, and sow — timed to Sun Lakes’s frost dates. Double opt-in, one-click unsubscribe, no spam.
Nearby cities
8 within reach- Chandler · 8 km
- Gilbert · 16 km
- Tempe · 20 km
- Maricopa · 23 km
- Queen Creek · 24 km
- Mesa · 25 km
- San Tan Valley · 29 km
- Casa Grande · 36 km
Frost dates recorded at CHANDLER HEIGHTS, 18 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 Sun Lakes, AZ — Frost Dates & Zone 9b." Frost normals: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, station USC00021514. Retrieved from https://blissgarden.com/arizona/sun-lakes.