Local planting guide · Southwest
zip 85073
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 sits in zone 10a where winter frost is minimal, with a year-round growing season and virtually no risk of killing freezes. This creates an entirely different gardening reality than most of the country. The limiting factor is not cold but rather extreme summer heat, which creates a harsh, high-UV environment that stops many plants in their tracks. The zone's actual advantage is its long, mild winter (October through May), which is prime growing season for cool-season and frost-sensitive crops. Figs, pomegranates, Asian persimmons, goji berries, and peppers thrive in Phoenix's climate. Tomatoes, eggplant, and herbs are productive here, though summer heat requires careful variety selection and timing. Many traditional temperate fruit trees like standard apples and pears fail because the winter provides minimal chill hours. The practical approach is to embrace the desert cycle: grow heat-loving crops in summer, transition to cool-season vegetables and greens in fall, and maintain productive perennials (figs, pomegranates) that handle the entire spectrum.
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
Phoenix gardeners face three primary obstacles. First, extreme summer heat causes flower drop in tomatoes and peppers once daytime highs exceed 100°F and nighttime temperatures stay above 75°F, making traditional summer tomato gardening difficult. Second, the minimal winter chill eliminates most chill-hour-dependent fruit trees, leaving gardeners with a limited palette unless they seek low-chill varieties. Third, desert soil is typically alkaline and nutrient-poor, compounded by intense UV exposure that desiccates foliage and soil surface. These constraints are manageable once recognized, but ignoring them leads to failed plantings and frustration.
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 tomatoes in late winter for a spring crop (January through March harvests). Avoid planting tomato seedlings in spring; they'll set flowers in favorable conditions but drop them once heat peaks. Instead, focus summer plantings on genuinely heat-tolerant crops like peppers, eggplant, basil, and okra. Second, incorporate 3 to 4 inches of finished compost into beds before planting to improve pH, water retention, and nutrient availability. Desert soil improves slowly, so amend with each planting. Third, use 30 to 50 percent shade cloth over beds during May through September to keep soil temperatures moderate and reduce transplant stress. Many crops that would bolt or fail in full sun (lettuce, spinach, Swiss chard) extend production under shade, and heat-sensitive crops like peppers perform better with afternoon protection.
Frequently asked questions
- Can I grow tomatoes in Phoenix?
Yes, but not in the traditional way. Phoenix's best tomato season is winter through spring (plant in January for March through May harvest). Summer planting fails because flowers drop when nighttime temperatures exceed 75°F and heat peaks above 100°F. Embrace the cool-season advantage rather than fighting the summer heat.
- What crops grow reliably year-round in Phoenix?
Figs and pomegranates produce well with minimal care once established. Peppers and eggplant thrive in summer. Winter and spring are ideal for tomatoes, leafy greens, root vegetables, herbs, and cole crops. The zone's strength is not year-round sameness but rather two distinct growing seasons with different crop palettes.
- When is the best time to plant in Phoenix?
October through January is peak season. The weather is mild, frost is negligible, and cool-season crops establish strong before spring heat. February through April is secondary (warm but not extreme). May through September is challenging; most gardeners focus on perennial maintenance and select heat-loving crops rather than general expansion.
- Will standard apple and pear trees work here?
Most standard varieties need 200 to 1,000+ chill hours annually. Phoenix's winter provides minimal chill, so standard varieties won't set adequate fruit. Seek low-chill varieties rated for zone 10a. Asian pears and figs are better choices. Some apple cultivars are bred specifically for low-chill climates and may work if selected carefully.
- How do I deal with Phoenix's intense summer heat?
Use 30 to 50 percent shade cloth May through September to moderate soil and air temperature. Select heat-tolerant crops: peppers, eggplant, basil, okra, Armenian cucumber. Water deeply and frequently because desert heat desiccates soil quickly. Mulch beds with 2 to 3 inches of compost to insulate roots and preserve moisture.
- What should I do about the alkaline soil?
Add 3 to 4 inches of finished compost with each planting cycle. Compost slowly buffers pH and improves nutrient availability. Amending continuously (rather than once) is more realistic than attempting to permanently lower pH in desert soil. Use sulfur-based soil amendments if pH is above 8.0 and you're planting acid-loving crops like blueberries.
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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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