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

Planting zone for Gilbert, AZ

Gilbert, AZ is in USDA zone 9b across its 7 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 1 and the first fall frost December 11.

Gilbert on the zone map

Outlined: its 6 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.

Zone9b25 to 30 °F
ZIP codes7
Last frostFeb 1
First frostDec 11
Growing season315 days

9b 7 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Gilbert, 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 Gilbert, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 1median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsFebruary 27only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 11median — 10% chance by Nov 23
Growing season315 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 8 and returns around December 26.

From the NOAA station Chandler Heights, AZ, elevation 1,424 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 Gilbert

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Dec 21 – Jan 4
SpinachSow outdoors · Dec 21 – Jan 11
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Nov 23 – Dec 7
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Jan 11 – Jan 25
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 4 – Jan 18
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Jan 11 – Jan 25
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 7 – Dec 21
TomatoesTransplant · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Nov 23 – Dec 7
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Feb 15 – Mar 1
BeansSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Feb 8 – Feb 22
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 16 – Oct 30
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 27 – Jan 1
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 1) and first fall frost (Dec 11) 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 85296 came on Jan 21 — 3 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 24).

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 9b in Arizona

499 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive 25 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 26

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 113

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 199

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 152

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 Gilbert, AZ.

Soil in Gilbert, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85296 is Contine — clay loam, well drained.

TextureClay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classPrime farmland if irrigatedUSDA classification

Map unit: Contine clay loam.

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 85296; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Gilbert, AZ

Summer high106 °Faverage high, July
Winter low40 °Faverage low, December
Hot days177days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights11nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days8,239base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 22 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 57 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation8.8 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°120°32 °FJanuary: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° JanFebruary: average high 70 °F, low 43 °F 70°43° FebMarch: average high 77 °F, low 48 °F 77°48° MarApril: average high 85 °F, low 53 °F 85°53° AprMay: average high 94 °F, low 62 °F 94°62° MayJune: average high 104 °F, low 71 °F 104°71° JunJuly: average high 106 °F, low 79 °F 106°79° JulAugust: average high 105 °F, low 78 °F 105°78° AugSeptember: average high 100 °F, low 71 °F 100°71° SepOctober: average high 90 °F, low 59 °F 90°59° OctNovember: average high 77 °F, low 48 °F 77°48° NovDecember: average high 66 °F, low 40 °F 66°40° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″January: 1.27 in precipitation 1.3 JanFebruary: 1.09 in precipitation 1.1 FebMarch: 0.94 in precipitation 0.9 MarApril: 0.28 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.19 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.05 in precipitation 0.1 JunJuly: 0.98 in precipitation 1.0 JulAugust: 1.04 in precipitation 1.0 AugSeptember: 0.84 in precipitation 0.8 SepOctober: 0.64 in precipitation 0.6 OctNovember: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 0.80 in precipitation 0.8 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: E Mesa, AZ (9 mi away); precipitation: Gilbert 3.9 Se, AZ (2 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Gilbert

852339b
25 to 30 °F
852349b
25 to 30 °F
852959b
25 to 30 °F
852969b
25 to 30 °F
852979b
25 to 30 °F
852989b
25 to 30 °F
852999b
25 to 30 °F

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about Gilbert

What planting zone is Gilbert, AZ?

Gilbert, AZ is in USDA hardiness zone 9b on the 2023 map (9b: 25 to 30 °F).

When is the last frost in Gilbert, AZ?

The median last spring frost is February 1 and the median first fall frost is December 11 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Chandler Heights station).

When can I plant a garden in Gilbert, AZ?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Dec 21 – Jan 11; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Feb 8, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Gilbert, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day is 14 h 22 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

How much rain and snow does Gilbert, AZ get?

About 8.8 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).