Data: 2023 USDA zones (PRISM/OSU) · NOAA 1991–2020 normals · updated

Planting zone for Fort Huachuca, AZ

Fort Huachuca, AZ is in USDA zone 8b across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is March 16 and the first fall frost November 21.

Fort Huachuca on the zone map

Outlined: its 1 ZIP code areas · tap the map for the zone at any spot · scroll or pinch to zoom

Not the official USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Zones come from the 2023 USDA hardiness-zone data by the PRISM Group, Oregon State University; we re-mapped and recolored them. The official map is at planthardiness.ars.usda.gov.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostMar 16
First frostNov 21
Growing season246 days

8b 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Fort Huachuca, AZ…

Forecast data: National Weather Service (api.weather.gov), public domain. This is not a warning service — for official frost and freeze warnings see weather.gov.

Frost dates in Fort Huachuca, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMarch 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsApril 12only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostNovember 21median — 10% chance by Nov 3
Growing season246 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around February 20 and returns around December 6.

From the NOAA station Ft Huachuca Pioneer Airfield, AZ, elevation 4,767 ft. NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020, 32 °F threshold. Low spots and valleys can freeze later in spring than the station.

When to plant vegetables in Fort Huachuca

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 16
SpinachSow outdoors · Feb 2 – Feb 23
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 23 – Mar 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Feb 16 – Mar 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 23 – Mar 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Jan 19 – Feb 2
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Jan 5 – Jan 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 30 – Apr 13
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 23 – Apr 6
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 26 – Oct 10
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 7 – Dec 12
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Mar 16) and first fall frost (Nov 21) with the rules of thumb U.S. extension services publish. Cool-season crops take a light frost; warm-season crops do best once the soil is above about 60 °F.

When spring arrived in 2026

In 2026, spring leaf-out near 85670 came on Feb 4 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 4).

JanFebMarAprMayJun

The Spring Index marks the day when accumulated warmth is enough for lilac and honeysuckle to leaf out — a widely used signal that the growing season has started. Source: USA National Phenology Network, www.usanpn.org — Spring Indices, first leaf, 2026 (data as of 2026-09-08) and 30-year average 1991–2020 (CC BY 4.0).

Native plants for zone 8b in Arizona

482 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive 15 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 25

Arizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °FArizona madrone30 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −4 °FArizona sycamore80 ft · blooms early spring · high shade tolerance · to −8 °FArizona walnut50 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −33 °Fblack locust60 ft · blooms spring · high shade tolerance · to −37 °Fblue spruce100 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Shrubs 105

alderleaf mountain mahogany15 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −41 °FAmerican plum24 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican tarwort3 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Fantelope bitterbrush6 ft · blooms early spring · medium shade tolerance · to −36 °FApache plume6 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °Fbig sagebrush4 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −43 °F

Wildflowers & perennials 196

alkali buttercup1 ft · blooms late spring · low shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine bistort1 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine mountainsorrel1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °FAmerican alpine speedwell1 ft · blooms summer · medium shade tolerance · to −28 °FAmerican bistort1.5 ft · blooms mid spring · high shade tolerance · to −38 °FAmerican century plant6 ft · blooms indeterminate · high shade tolerance · to 12 °F

Grasses 147

alkali cordgrass3 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falkali sacaton3 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −38 °Falpine timothy1.4 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −43 °Fanalogue sedge1.5 ft · blooms late spring · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °FArizona cottontop4 ft · blooms late summer · high shade tolerance · to −13 °FArizona fescue2 ft · blooms late spring · high shade tolerance · to −23 °F

Vines 1

western white clematis1 ft · blooms mid summer · medium shade tolerance · to −38 °F

Source: USDA, NRCS. 2026. The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov), National Plant Data Team — state distribution, native status and the “Temperature, Minimum” characteristic. Check light, moisture and soil needs before buying; local nurseries and your state native plant society can confirm what thrives in Fort Huachuca, AZ.

Soil in Fort Huachuca, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85670 is Eloma — very gravelly sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.4slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Eloma-Caralampi-White House complex, 1 to 15 percent slopes.

Soil Survey Staff, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. Soil Survey Geographic (SSURGO) Database, via Soil Data Access, accessed 2026-10-29. The soil at the center point of ZIP 85670; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Fort Huachuca, AZ

Summer high95 °Faverage high, June
Winter low29 °Faverage low, January
Hot days94days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights83nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,797base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 13 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 05 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation12.2 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall1 inper year

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 60 °F, low 29 °F 60°29° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 32 °F 64°32° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 37 °F 70°37° MarApril: average high 78 °F, low 42 °F 78°42° AprMay: average high 86 °F, low 50 °F 86°50° MayJune: average high 95 °F, low 59 °F 95°59° JunJuly: average high 93 °F, low 65 °F 93°65° JulAugust: average high 91 °F, low 64 °F 91°64° AugSeptember: average high 88 °F, low 57 °F 88°57° SepOctober: average high 80 °F, low 46 °F 80°46° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 36 °F 69°36° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 29 °F 59°29° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 0.85 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 0.8❄1 JanFebruary: 0.75 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.8 FebMarch: 0.55 in precipitation, 0.1 in snowfall 0.6 MarApril: 0.19 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.23 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.56 in precipitation 0.6 JunJuly: 2.58 in precipitation 2.6 JulAugust: 2.86 in precipitation 2.9 AugSeptember: 1.47 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 0.68 in precipitation 0.7 OctNovember: 0.67 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 0.7 NovDecember: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pearce - Sunsites, AZ (6 mi away); precipitation: Pearce - Sunsites, AZ (6 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Fort Huachuca

856138b
15 to 20 °F
856708b
15 to 20 °F

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about Fort Huachuca

What planting zone is Fort Huachuca, AZ?

Fort Huachuca, AZ is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map (8b: 15 to 20 °F).

When is the last frost in Fort Huachuca, AZ?

The median last spring frost is March 16 and the median first fall frost is November 21 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Huachuca Pioneer Airfield station).

When can I plant a garden in Fort Huachuca, AZ?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Feb 2 – Feb 23; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 23, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Fort Huachuca, AZ?

Short-day onions: the longest day is 14 h 13 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.

How much rain and snow does Fort Huachuca, AZ get?

About 12.2 inches of precipitation a year and 1 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).