Frost dates for Sunset Crater Nm, AZ
When the last spring frost and first fall frost usually come, and when to plant, from 30 years of NOAA weather records.
Last spring frost
June 16
typical year
Safe to plant
June 29
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
September 19
typical year
Growing season
94 days
frost-free, typical year
Frost watch this week
Tonight's and the next six nights' lows from the National Weather Service forecast for the station's location. Frost: 32°F or colder. Possible frost: 33–36°F, mostly in low spots on clear, still nights.
When to plant
Counted from this page's frost dates. Warm-season crops wait for the safe-to-plant date.
| Crop | Start indoors | Plant outside | Fall planting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cool-season crops | |||
| Peas | – | May 19 – Jun 2 | – |
| Spinach | – | May 5 – 26 | Jul 25 – Aug 8 |
| Lettuce | – | May 19 – Jun 9 | Jul 25 – Aug 8 |
| Radishes | – | May 19 – Jun 30 | Aug 8 – 22 |
| Onions | – | May 19 – Jun 2 | – |
| Potatoes | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Carrots | – | May 26 – Jun 16 | Jun 27 – Jul 11 |
| Beets | – | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 11 – 25 |
| Kale | Apr 7 – 21 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 11 – 25 |
| Broccoli | Apr 7 – 21 | Jun 2 – 16 | Jul 11 – 25 |
| Cabbage | Mar 24 – Apr 7 | May 19 – Jun 2 | Jul 11 – 25 |
| Garlic | – | – | Aug 8 – 29 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | May 4 – 18 | Jun 29 – Jul 13 | – |
| Peppers | Apr 27 – May 11 | Jul 6 – 20 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Jun 29 – Jul 20 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Jun 29 – Jul 27 | – |
| Pumpkins | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Green beans | – | Jun 29 – Jul 11 | – |
| Sweet corn | Season usually too short. Try a quick variety or row covers. | ||
| Basil | May 25 – Jun 8 | Jul 6 – 13 | – |
Onions: from sets. Green beans: until 10 weeks before the first fall frost. Garlic: harvest next summer.
The year at a glance
Start indoors Plant outside Fall planting
The chance of frost, by date
| 1 year in 10 | Half of years | 9 years in 10 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spring frost after | June 29 | June 16 | June 3 |
| Fall frost before | August 31 | September 19 | September 30 |
Frost here means 32°F or colder. Read across: in 1 year in 10, spring frost carries on past the first date, which is why that date is the safe-to-plant date.
Hard freeze (28°F)
A hard freeze kills most garden plants, even hardy ones. The last one in spring usually comes around June 5 (June 20 in a late year), and the first one in fall around September 28.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station SUNSET CRATER NM, AZ US (USC00028329), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 1 zip code, all within 10 miles:
86004
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.