Local planting guide · Southwest
zip 85064
Phoenix is in USDA hardiness zone 10a, with average winter lows of 30°F to 35°F. The local growing season runs roughly 01/05 through 01/03 (~365 days). This zip falls within the Southwest growing region.
- USDA zone
- 10a 30°F to 35°F
- Last spring frost
- 01/05
- First fall frost
- 01/03
- Growing season
- 365 days
- Compatible crops
- 28
- Growing region
- Southwest
Right now in Phoenix
Week 18 priorities
On the docket: transplant out after last frost · direct sow after last frost. See the full calendar →
Gardening in Phoenix
Phoenix's defining gardening constraint is summer heat, not winter cold. At 365 frost-free days annually, the growing season is effectively year-round, but the brutal summer (regularly exceeding 115°F) pushes most cool-season crops out of the calendar from June through August. Home gardeners here work in reverse: fall is the major planting season when cool air returns (October through November), producing strong crops through the mild winter months. Spring planting is compressed into a brief window (February through March) before May's heat arrives. Heat-loving crops like figs, pomegranates, Asian persimmons, goji berries, and peppers (sweet and hot) thrive where many other zone 10a regions struggle. Eggplant and tomatoes succeed only with strategic variety selection and afternoon shade or heat-tolerant cultivars. The dry desert air creates low disease pressure compared to humid subtropical zone 10a areas, a real advantage for fruit trees susceptible to fungal diseases elsewhere. Water availability and alkaline, sandy soils are the secondary constraints; consistent irrigation is non-negotiable.
Regional context · Southwest
What the Southwest brings to Phoenix
Hot, arid, irrigated. Two growing seasons in the low desert: cool October to April, hot May to September. Date palms and citrus thrive at low elevation; apples and stone fruit at higher elevations. The chile-pepper belt of the country.
Common challenges
Issues that most often defeat home gardeners in zone 10a, drawn from the broader USDA zone profile.
- ▸ No chilling for traditional temperate fruit
- ▸ Hurricane exposure
- ▸ Heat-tolerant cultivars only
What defeats new gardeners in Phoenix
Summer heat stress is the primary challenge. Tomatoes and peppers flowering in May face high night temperatures (often above 75°F), which causes blossom drop and reduced fruit set. Unshaded transplants can literally cook in direct sun within hours in June. Alkaline desert soils common around Phoenix often lock up micronutrients (iron, zinc, manganese), causing chlorosis in acid-loving plants. Water restrictions in dry years force difficult choices about which plantings survive. Grasshoppers and spider mites explode during hot, dry spells, especially in late August and September. Late-summer monsoon thunderstorms (July-August) rarely provide usable moisture; drainage becomes critical after intense downpours on compacted soil.
Crops that grow in Phoenix
28 crops from our catalog match zone 10a, grouped by type.
Tree fruit
12 crops
zone 10a Fig
Ficus carica
zones 7a–10b
zone 10a Asian Persimmon
Diospyros kaki
zones 7a–10a
zone 10a Pomegranate
Punica granatum
zones 7b–10a
zone 10a Lemon
Citrus limon
zones 9a–11b
zone 10a Orange
Citrus sinensis
zones 9a–11b
zone 10a Lime
Citrus aurantiifolia
zones 9b–11b
zone 10a Grapefruit
Citrus paradisi
zones 9a–11b
zone 10a Avocado
Persea americana
zones 9b–11b
Berries
3 crops
Nuts
1 crop
Vegetables
10 crops
zone 10a Tomato
Solanum lycopersicum
zones 3a–10b
zone 10a Sweet Pepper
Capsicum annuum
zones 4a–10b
zone 10a Hot Pepper
Capsicum species
zones 4a–10b
zone 10a Eggplant
Solanum melongena
zones 5a–10b
zone 10a Cucumber
Cucumis sativus
zones 3b–10a
zone 10a Summer Squash
Cucurbita pepo
zones 3b–10a
zone 10a Melon
Cucumis melo
zones 5a–10a
zone 10a Watermelon
Citrullus lanatus
zones 5b–10a
Herbs
2 crops
Plan the year
Planting calendar for Phoenix
Year-view of seed starting, transplanting, planting, pruning, fertilizing, harvest, and pest-watch windows tuned to Phoenix's local frost dates.
Week ? · loading
This week in Phoenix, AZ (zone 10a)
Quiet week in Phoenix, AZ (zone 10a). this week is a good time to step back and plan ahead.
Nothing critical on the calendar this week.
147 bars · 28 crops
Calendar logic combines NOAA frost normals with crop-specific timing data. Local microclimate and weather always overrules the calendar; use this as a starting point.
Top pests for zone 10a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for IPM controls and signs to watch for.
Pseudococcidae spp.
Soft white waxy insects that cluster at leaf joints, fruit stems, and root crowns. Honeydew secretion supports sooty mold; root mealybugs cause decline that mimics drought.
Meloidogyne species
Microscopic soil-dwelling worm that forms galls on roots, reducing vigor and yield.
Multiple species (Aphididae)
Small soft-bodied sap-sucking insects that reproduce explosively in spring. Excrete honeydew that supports sooty mold and attracts ants. Transmit viral diseases.
Multiple species (Aleyrodidae)
Tiny white moth-like flying insects that feed on plant sap and excrete honeydew. Transmit numerous viral diseases including tomato yellow leaf curl virus.
Coccoidea spp.
Sap-sucking insects that attach to bark, leaves, and fruit, secreting honeydew that fuels sooty mold. Heavy infestations weaken trees and cause leaf yellowing.
Tetranychus urticae
Tiny mite that feeds on leaf undersides, causing stippling and webbing during hot dry weather.
Ceratitis capitata
Quarantine pest in many regions. Adult females puncture ripening fruit to lay eggs; larvae tunnel through the flesh, causing premature drop and rot.
Multiple species (Chrysomelidae)
Tiny black or bronze jumping beetles that put hundreds of small holes in seedling leaves. Most damaging on direct-seeded brassicas and young eggplant.
Top diseases for zone 10a
Ranked by how many crops in your zone they affect. Click through for symptoms, controls, and resistant varieties.
Capnodium spp.
Black fungal coating that grows on honeydew secreted by aphids, scale, mealybugs, and whiteflies. Doesn't infect plant tissue directly but blocks photosynthesis and disfigures fruit.
Cucumber mosaic virus, Tobacco mosaic virus, and others
Family of plant viruses producing mottled yellow-and-green leaf patterns. Vectored primarily by aphids; some are seed-transmitted or spread by handling tools and tobacco products.
Calcium deficiency physiological disorder
Not a true disease but a calcium-uptake disorder caused by inconsistent soil moisture during fruit development. The dominant cause of damaged first-fruit on home tomato plantings.
Sclerotium rolfsii
Soil-borne fungal disease most damaging in warm humid Southern conditions. White mycelial fans and small mustard-seed-sized sclerotia at the soil line are diagnostic.
Pythium and Rhizoctonia species
Soil-borne complex of water molds and fungi that kill seedlings before or shortly after emergence. The single most common cause of seed-starting failures.
Fusarium oxysporum
Soil-borne fungal disease that plugs vascular tissue and kills affected plants. Persists in soil for many years; impossible to eliminate once established.
Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Most damaging mango disease worldwide. Fungal spores infect blossoms and developing fruit during humid weather, producing black sunken lesions that expand on ripening fruit.
Multiple species (Erysiphales)
Surface-feeding fungal disease producing white powdery growth on leaves and stems. Reduces yield by stealing photosynthate and accelerating senescence.
Companion planting suggestions
Beneficial pairings drawn from companion data, filtered to crops that grow in zone 10a.
- Fig + Rosemary
Rosemary tolerates the dry sites figs prefer and provides aromatic pest deterrence.
- Tomato + Basil
The classic Italian pairing. Basil's volatile oils are reported to repel hornworms and whiteflies, and the two crops share the same warm-season schedule and water needs. Plant basil between tomato cages.
- Sweet Pepper + Basil
Same warm-season culture, same watering schedule. Basil reportedly improves pepper flavor and repels aphids and thrips that are pepper's primary pests.
- Hot Pepper + Basil
Compatible heat-loving culture, similar water needs. Basil interplanted between hot pepper plants supports beneficial insects and reduces aphid pressure.
- Okra + Hot Pepper
Both heat-loving warm-season crops with similar water and fertility needs. Hot pepper at okra's base benefits from the slight afternoon shade in extreme summer heat.
Soil types reference
Soil texture and pH decide what grows easily on your specific lot. Find the closest match below for crop recommendations and amendment guidance.
Practical tips for Phoenix
Plant major crops on a reverse calendar: late August through September for fall and winter harvests (tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens, root crops). This timing avoids the May-to-August heat crisis entirely and exploits the ideal growing season of October through March. Provide afternoon shade (30 to 50 percent shade cloth) for tender vegetables during May and September to prevent sun scald and heat stress even when water is adequate. Amend desert soils heavily with compost or aged manure before planting to improve water retention and buffer alkalinity; mulch heavily (3 to 4 inches) to keep soil temperatures down and slow evaporation. Figs, pomegranates, and other true heat lovers can be planted and tended year-round if given supplemental water.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best crops to grow in Phoenix?
Figs, pomegranates, Asian persimmons, and goji berries are reliable year-round crops. For warm seasons, tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, and okra excel with heat-tolerant varieties. Fall and winter (October-March) are ideal for leafy greens, root crops, brassicas, and herbs when temperatures moderate.
- When should I plant tomatoes in Phoenix?
Late February through March for a late-spring to early-summer crop, then again in late August through September for fall harvest. The summer plantings rarely produce; focus tomato energy on the fall season when night temperatures drop below 75°F and fruit set improves.
- How do I protect vegetables from summer heat?
Use 30 to 50 percent shade cloth from May through September. Mulch heavily (3-4 inches) to cool soil and reduce water loss. Choose heat-tolerant varieties like 'Roma', 'Heatwave', or 'Surefire' tomatoes, and Armenian cucumber or yard-long beans instead of standard cucumbers and beans.
- Do I need frost protection in Phoenix?
Frost risk is minimal. The vast majority of years pass without freezing temperatures. Tender perennials (figs, pomegranates, citrus) rarely need protection, but occasional hard freezes (rare, below 32°F) can damage unestablished plants or heavy-fruiting trees under stress.
- What's the biggest watering challenge in Phoenix?
Desert soils drain so fast that frequent, deep watering is required even in winter. Drip irrigation on a timer is nearly essential. Sandy soils hold little moisture, so amending with compost improves water retention and reduces the frequency of irrigation needed.
- Can I garden year-round in Phoenix?
Yes, but with planning. October through March is the prime season with ideal temperatures. April through September is reserved for heat-loving crops (peppers, eggplant, melons) or heavily shaded plantings. Most gardeners focus on the cooler months and use summer for maintenance, soil building, and planning.
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Frost data: NOAA Climate Normals 1991-2020, station USW00023183. Local microclimates can shift these dates by a week or more.
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