Scottsdale, AZ Frost Dates
Average frost dates, USDA hardiness zone, and growing season length for Scottsdale, Arizona.
Gardening in Scottsdale
Phoenix's upscale neighbor has the same desert climate but more polished approach — desert-adapted edible landscaping is an art form in Scottsdale's higher-end neighborhoods.
Zone 9b with the same Valley of the Sun heat challenges as Phoenix. The McDowell Mountains create rain-shadow effects and microclimates. Desert-adapted food growing — citrus, date palms, pomegranates — thrives here.
The Scottsdale Farmers Market brings desert agriculture to the Salt River corridor. The city's resort-adjacent communities have turned edible landscaping into an aesthetic statement that grows actual food.
What This Means for Scottsdale Gardeners
The average last spring frost in Scottsdale is around February 5, and the average first fall frost arrives around December 10. That gives you approximately 308 frost-free days to work with.
308 days is a long, productive season that supports two full rounds of warm-season crops plus continuous cool-season production through your mild winter. Most frost-sensitive crops can be transplanted by February 5, giving them months to produce before fall. Your winter garden is the real advantage — growing fresh vegetables in December and January while northern gardeners browse seed catalogs.
These dates are based on NOAA 30-year Climate Normal data for the Scottsdale area. Your actual frost dates could shift 2-3 weeks in either direction in any given year. Learn more about our data sources.
What to Grow in Scottsdale
With 308 frost-free days, Scottsdale can grow nearly anything — including tropical and subtropical plants that most of the country can only dream about. Your prime vegetable season runs from fall through spring; summer is for heat-lovers like okra, sweet potatoes, and peppers. Recommended starting points: cherry tomatoes, jalapeños, okra, sweet potatoes, basil, collard greens, tomatillos, and lemongrass.
See the full Arizona planting guide for all 40 plants: Arizona Planting Calendar. Or enter your zip code for exact planting dates personalized to Scottsdale.
More About Zone 9B
Scottsdale is in USDA Hardiness Zone 9B, which means average annual extreme minimum temperatures between 25°F to 30°F. View the full Zone 9B planting guide.
See the complete planting calendar for Arizona: Arizona Planting Calendar.
Other Cities in Arizona
Frequently Asked Questions
These dates are based on NOAA's 30-year Climate Normal data for the Scottsdale area. They represent historical averages, not predictions. In any given year, the actual last frost could be 2-3 weeks earlier or later. Microclimates within Scottsdale (urban heat islands, hilltops, low-lying valleys) can also shift your local frost dates by a week or more.
You can plant cool-season crops (lettuce, kale, broccoli) from December 10 through February 5 — your cool season is your primary vegetable season. Warm-season crops like tomatoes and peppers go out in early spring. Tropical plants grow year-round. Enter your zip code for exact dates for every plant.