Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85653 (Marana, 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, Tucson 17 NW, AZ (15 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 2350% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 650% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)287 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
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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
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 73°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tucson 11 W (17 mi).
4-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 75°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Estimate Not a measurement at this ZIP: distance-weighted average of Tucson 11 W (17 mi).
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 85653 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 76°F at 4 inches (estimated soil temperature, not a station reading). Fall pre-emergent (annual bluegrass, winter weeds): not yet. Apply as soil cools toward 70°F (typically 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 Apr 10 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 Sep 27–Oct 25
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 11–Nov 1
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 1
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 11–Nov 8
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 11–25
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 27–Oct 25
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 6: 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 15 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 23 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 22 |
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 18 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 6 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 25 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 15 | Nov 24 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 23 | Dec 6 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 22 | Dec 19 |
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 85653
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 23) and first fall frost (Dec 6). 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 29–Jan 12 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | Aug 9–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 15–29 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 15–29 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Feb 2–23 (transplant) Jan 26–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (transplant) Sep 27–Oct 25 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Jan 12–Feb 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 1 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Jan 26–Feb 23 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–Oct 11 (transplant) Aug 30–Sep 27 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 15–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 15–29 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) | Aug 30–Sep 27 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Dec 1–15 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Aug 16–Sep 6 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 29–Jan 12 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 26–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Jan 12–26 | Feb 9–Mar 2 (transplant) Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 26–Feb 23 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Feb 2–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 19–Mar 2 (sow outdoors) | Oct 25–Nov 8 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 26–Feb 16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 29–Jan 26 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Dec 1–15 | Jan 12–26 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Jan 12–Feb 9 (sow outdoors) | Sep 27–Oct 11 (sowing) |
| Leek | Dec 1–15 | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Jan 12–26 (transplant) | Oct 25–Nov 22 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Aug 16–30 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 16–30 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 16–Apr 6 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | Sep 13–27 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 26–Feb 2 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Jan 12–26 | Mar 9–23 (transplant) Mar 9–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Dec 1–15 | Mar 2–9 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Jan 12–26 | Mar 2–16 (transplant) Mar 2–16 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Feb 9–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 15–29 | Feb 9–23 (transplant) Feb 2–23 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | Oct 11–25 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 23–Mar 9 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 26–Feb 9 (transplant) | Sep 27–Oct 25 (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: Tucson 17 NW, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00028795), elevation 2,561 ft, 14.9 miles from the ZIP's center point. NOAA completeness flag: R (representative, 10+ years).
Nearby stations
| Station | Distance | Last frost (50%) | First frost (50%) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tucson 11 W, AZ | 17 mi | Feb 8 | Dec 10 |
| Picacho 8 SE, AZ | 17 mi | Feb 6 | Dec 9 |
| Tohono Chul, AZ | 24 mi | Feb 26 | Dec 4 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 20 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85653
When is the last frost in 85653?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85653 is February 23. For a more cautious planting date, use March 22, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85653?
The average first fall freeze is December 6. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 18.
What hardiness zone is 85653?
ZIP 85653 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 85653 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
85145 Red Rock 85654 Rillito 85743 Picture Rocks 85658 Marana 85141 Picacho 85742 Casas Adobes 85741 Casas Adobes 85735 Three Points
Other ZIP codes in Pima County
85321 85341 85601 85614 85619 85622 85629 85633 85634 85639 85641 85645 85654 85701 85704 85705 85706 85707 85708 85709 85710 85711 85712 85713 All Pima 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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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.