Frost dates for Tacna, 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
February 13
typical year
Safe to plant
March 5
frost is over in 9 of 10 years
First fall frost
December 1
typical year
Growing season
288 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 | – | Jan 16 – 30 | – |
| Spinach | – | Jan 2 – 23 | Oct 6 – 20 |
| Lettuce | – | Jan 16 – Feb 6 | Oct 6 – 20 |
| Radishes | – | Jan 16 – Feb 27 | Oct 20 – Nov 3 |
| Onions | – | Jan 16 – 30 | – |
| Potatoes | – | Jan 23 – Feb 6 | – |
| Carrots | – | Jan 23 – Feb 13 | Sep 8 – 22 |
| Beets | – | Jan 16 – 30 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Kale | Dec 5 – 19 | Jan 16 – 30 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Broccoli | Dec 5 – 19 | Jan 30 – Feb 13 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Cabbage | Nov 21 – Dec 5 | Jan 16 – 30 | Sep 22 – Oct 6 |
| Garlic | – | – | Oct 20 – Nov 10 |
| Warm-season crops | |||
| Tomatoes | Jan 8 – 22 | Mar 5 – 19 | – |
| Peppers | Jan 1 – 15 | Mar 12 – 26 | – |
| Cucumbers | – | Mar 5 – 26 | – |
| Zucchini | – | Mar 5 – Apr 2 | – |
| Pumpkins | – | Mar 5 – 26 | – |
| Green beans | – | Mar 5 – Sep 22 | – |
| Sweet corn | – | Mar 5 – Apr 2 | – |
| Basil | Jan 29 – Feb 12 | Mar 12 – 19 | – |
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 | March 5 | February 13 | January 19 |
| Fall frost before | November 14 | December 1 | December 17 |
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 January 23 (February 20 in a late year), and the first one in fall around December 11.
Where these dates come from
NOAA weather station TACNA 3 NE, AZ US (USC00028396), 1991–2020 climate normals. It's the nearest station for 2 zip codes, all within 8 miles:
85347, 85352
Planting dates follow common university extension advice; your local extension service can fine-tune them for your soil and microclimate.