Fall in zone 9bPhoto: George Chernilevsky, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Frost dates for ZIP 85705 (Tucson, 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 U Of A #1, AZ (1 miles away).
- Average last spring frostFeb 1150% chance of a 32°F freeze after this date
- Average first fall frostDec 250% chance of a 32°F freeze by this date
- Growing season (frost-free)293 daysmedian, 32°F threshold
- USDA hardiness zone9b25 to 30°F avg. coldest night
Get The Dial for 85705 (Tucson)
Frost and freeze alerts from the NWS forecast for 85705, the spring soil-temperature heads-up for pre-emergent, and a short weekly yard-timing email.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.
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
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Tucson 11 W, 11 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 74°, Fri 77°, Sat 76°.
4-inch depth
76°F 55°F or warmer
24-hour average · latest 75°F, as of Oct 18, 1:00 AM CDT
Measured at NOAA USCRN station Tucson 11 W, 11 mi away. Daily averages: Thu 73°, Fri 76°, Sat 76°.
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 85705 load here. You can also open the NWS forecast for this ZIP.
Pre-emergent
Soil is 76°F at 4 inches. 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 Mar 29 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 23–Oct 21
- Lettuce: fall transplant Oct 7–28
- Spinach: fall sowing Oct 7–28
- Bok choy / Asian greens: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Arugula: fall sowing Oct 7–Nov 4
- Mustard greens: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Cilantro: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Dill: fall sowing Oct 7–21
- Strawberry (plants): fall transplant Sep 23–Oct 21
Coming up in the next 3 weeks
Prune now
No frost-timed pruning windows are open this week.
Your average first frost is Dec 2: 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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" last frost) | Feb 11 |
| 10% (cautious: only 1 year in 10 freezes later) | Mar 7 |
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 16 |
| 50% (the "average" first frost) | Dec 2 |
| 90% (late: most years have frozen by now) | Dec 20 |
Light frost, freeze and hard freeze
| Threshold | Last spring (50%) | First fall (50%) |
|---|---|---|
| 36°F (light frost possible on clear, calm nights) | Mar 6 | Nov 22 |
| 32°F (freeze) | Feb 11 | Dec 2 |
| 28°F (hard freeze) | Jan 18 | Dec 15 |
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 85705
Dates count from your average last spring frost (Feb 11) and first fall frost (Dec 2). 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 17–31 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | Aug 5–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Pepper (sweet and hot) | Dec 3–17 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Eggplant | Dec 3–17 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Tomatillo | Dec 17–31 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) | – |
| Lettuce | Dec 17–31 | Jan 21–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–28 (transplant) Sep 23–Oct 21 (sowing) |
| Spinach | – | Dec 31–Jan 21 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–28 (sowing) |
| Kale | Dec 17–31 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Collards | Dec 17–31 | Jan 14–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–Oct 7 (transplant) Aug 26–Sep 23 (sowing) |
| Broccoli | Dec 3–17 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Cabbage | Dec 3–17 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Cauliflower | Dec 3–17 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) | Aug 26–Sep 23 (transplant) |
| Brussels sprouts | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 12–Sep 2 (transplant) |
| Kohlrabi | Dec 17–31 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Bok choy / Asian greens | – | Jan 14–28 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Arugula | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Mustard greens | – | Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Swiss chard | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Jan 28–Feb 18 (transplant) Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Beet | – | Jan 14–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Carrot | – | Jan 21–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Radish | – | Jan 7–Feb 18 (sow outdoors) | Oct 21–Nov 4 (sowing) |
| Turnip | – | Jan 14–Feb 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Parsnip | – | Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pea (garden, snap, snow) | – | Dec 17–Jan 14 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Onion (bulbing) | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | – |
| Green onion / scallion | – | Dec 31–Jan 28 (sow outdoors) | Sep 23–Oct 7 (sowing) |
| Leek | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 21–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Shallot | – | Dec 31–Jan 14 (transplant) | Oct 21–Nov 18 (sowing) |
| Potato | – | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Aug 12–26 (transplant) |
| Sweet potato | – | Mar 4–18 (transplant) | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Bean, bush (snap) | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Bean, pole | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Lima bean | – | Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Southern pea (cowpea, black-eyed pea) | – | Mar 4–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cucumber | Jan 14–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Summer squash / zucchini | Jan 14–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | Sep 9–23 (sowing) |
| Winter squash | Jan 14–21 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Pumpkin | – | Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Watermelon | Jan 14–21 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cantaloupe / muskmelon | Jan 14–21 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Okra | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 25–Mar 11 (transplant) Feb 25–Mar 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Celery | Nov 19–Dec 3 | Feb 18–25 (transplant) | – |
| Basil | Dec 31–Jan 14 | Feb 18–Mar 4 (transplant) Feb 18–Mar 4 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Cilantro | – | Jan 28–Feb 25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Parsley | Dec 3–17 | Jan 28–Feb 11 (transplant) Jan 21–Feb 11 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Dill | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | Oct 7–21 (sowing) |
| Sunflower | – | Feb 11–25 (sow outdoors) | – |
| Asparagus (crowns) | – | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Rhubarb (crowns) | – | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | – |
| Strawberry (plants) | – | Jan 14–28 (transplant) | Sep 23–Oct 21 (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 U Of A #1, AZ (NOAA GHCN-Daily ID USC00028817), elevation 2,315 ft, 1.2 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 Camp Ave EXP, AZ | 3 mi | Feb 20 | Nov 27 |
| Tucson WFO, AZ | 4 mi | Jan 20 | Dec 17 |
| Tohono Chul, AZ | 5 mi | Feb 26 | Dec 4 |
The average last-frost dates of these stations span 37 days, a rough guide to local variation. See data sources & methods.
Frost questions for 85705
When is the last frost in 85705?
The average (50% chance) last spring freeze of 32°F for ZIP 85705 is February 11. For a more cautious planting date, use March 7, when only 1 year in 10 still sees a later freeze.
When is the first frost in 85705?
The average first fall freeze is December 2. In 1 year in 10 it comes by November 16.
What hardiness zone is 85705?
ZIP 85705 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 85705 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
85719 Tucson 85724 Tucson 85721 Tucson 85701 Tucson 85745 Tucson Mountains 85716 Tucson 85704 Casas Adobes 85718 Catalina Foothills
Other ZIP codes in Pima County
85321 85341 85601 85614 85619 85622 85629 85633 85634 85639 85641 85645 85653 85654 85701 85704 85706 85707 85708 85709 85710 85711 85712 85713 All Pima County frost dates · Arizona frost dates
Never miss a frost: get The Dial
Weekly yard timing, plus frost and soil-temperature alerts for your ZIP code.
- Freeze alerts
- Soil-temp heads-up
- Weekly yard to-dos
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.