Frost dates · USDA zone 9a
Frost dates for Maricopa, AZ
Maricopa, AZ sees its last 32 °F night of spring around February 23 and its first of fall around November 24 — a 274-day freeze-free season in a typical year.
Pick a sauce; the Plan Builder runs this station's dates and hands back the calendar, plant count and gear list.
Freeze odds, by date
| Odds | Last spring freeze after | First fall freeze before |
|---|---|---|
| 9 years in 10 | Jan 29 | Dec 8 |
| Median — 1 year in 2 | Feb 23 | Nov 24 |
| 1 year in 10 | Mar 15 | Nov 10 |
The top row is the risky edge: in 9 years of 10 a spring freeze still comes after it, so tender transplants set out then need cover. The bottom row is the cautious date — only 1 year in 10 freezes after it — and the one to plan uncovered tender transplants against. Freeze-free season: 274 days median, at least 245 in 9 years of 10, at least 304 days in 1 year of 10. NOAA ranks season length year by year, so it is not the gap between two rows above. A hard freeze (28 °F) has a median last date of Feb 2 and first of Dec 6.
Maricopa planting calendar, 2027
Every row runs from the median last frost (Feb 23) and median first frost (Nov 24) above, using each cultivar's days to maturity. Same engine as the Plan Builder.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant | First harvest | Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hardneck GarlicSiberian (porcelain hardneck) | — | Oct 15prior fall | Jun 12 | 240 from sow |
| Spanish OnionYellow Sweet Spanish (long-day) | Dec 1 | Jan 26 | May 16 | 110 from transplant |
| Mustard greensGarnet Giant (Brassica juncea) | Direct sow | Feb 23 | Mar 25 | 30 from sow |
| CilantroSlow Bolt (Coriandrum sativum) | Feb 9 | Feb 9 | Mar 26 | 45 from sow |
| Genovese BasilGenovese | Jan 26 | Mar 9 | May 8 | 60 from transplant |
| CayenneLong Slim Cayenne (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 29 | Mar 2 | May 16 | 75 from transplant |
| HabaneroOrange Habanero (Capsicum chinense) | Dec 15 | Mar 9 | Jun 12 | 95 from transplant |
| JalapeñoEarly Jalapeño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 29 | Mar 2 | May 16 | 75 from transplant |
| Marconi Red PepperMarconi Red (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 29 | Mar 2 | May 21 | 80 from transplant |
| SerranoSerrano Tampiqueño (Capsicum annuum) | Dec 29 | Mar 2 | May 21 | 80 from transplant |
| Nantes CarrotScarlet Nantes | Feb 9 | Feb 9 | Apr 20 | 70 from sow |
| TomatilloToma Verde | Jan 12 | Mar 2 | May 11 | 70 from transplant |
| Roma TomatoRoma VF (determinate paste) | Jan 12 | Mar 2 | May 16 | 75 from transplant |
| San Marzano TomatoSan Marzano (indeterminate paste) | Jan 12 | Mar 2 | May 21 | 80 from transplant |
Tight means first harvest lands within two weeks of the median first fall frost: start that crop indoors on time or cover it in fall.
What sauce can Maricopa grow?
Each sauce, scheduled for a Maricopa container garden: when the first seeds go in and when enough fruit has ripened for one batch.
Maricopa frost questions
When is the last frost in Maricopa, AZ?
The median last 32 °F freeze at MARICOPA 4 N, AZ is February 23: half of years see a later one. One year in ten, a freeze still comes after March 15; nine years in ten, it comes after January 29. Source: NOAA NCEI 1991–2020 U.S. Climate Normals.
When is the first frost in Maricopa, AZ?
The median first 32 °F freeze of fall is November 24. One year in ten it arrives before November 10; nine years in ten, before December 8.
How long is the growing season in Maricopa, AZ?
274 days between the last spring and first fall 32 °F freeze in a median year. Nine years in ten the season runs at least 245 days; one year in ten, at least 304 days.
What growing zone is Maricopa, AZ?
USDA hardiness zone 9a, per the 2023 USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map for ZIP 85138. A zone describes the coldest winter night, not when frost ends, so it is the wrong number for a planting calendar — the frost dates on this page are the right one.
When should I plant tomatoes in Maricopa, AZ?
Start Roma VF (determinate paste) seeds indoors around Jan 12 and transplant around Mar 2, 1 week after the median last frost. To cut the freeze risk to one year in ten, wait for Mar 15. First ripe fruit lands around May 16.
When should I plant peppers in Maricopa, AZ?
Sow jalapeño indoors on a heat mat around Dec 29; transplant no earlier than Mar 2, and wait past it until nights hold above 50 °F — that can run weeks later. First green pods around May 16.
Nearby in Arizona
- Casa Grandelast frost Feb 5
- Chandlerlast frost Feb 1
- Gilbertlast frost Feb 1
- Tempelast frost Feb 13
- Goodyearlast frost Jan 7
- Queen Creeklast frost Feb 1
All Arizona frost dates → · How frost-date math drives a sowing calendar →