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

Planting zone for Green Valley, AZ

Green Valley, AZ is in USDA zone 9a across its 2 ZIP codes. The median last spring frost is February 25 and the first fall frost December 5.

Green Valley on the zone map

Outlined: its 2 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.

Zone9a20 to 25 °F
ZIP codes2
Last frostFeb 25
First frostDec 5
Growing season282 days

9a 2 ZIPs

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Green Valley, 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 Green Valley, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostFebruary 25median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMarch 29only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostDecember 5median — 10% chance by Nov 16
Growing season282 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around January 28 and returns around December 19.

From the NOAA station Santa Rita Exp Range, AZ, elevation 4,301 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 Green Valley

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Jan 28
SpinachSow outdoors · Jan 14 – Feb 4
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Feb 4 – Feb 18
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
LettuceSow outdoors · Jan 28 – Feb 11
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Feb 4 – Feb 18
TomatoesStart indoors · Dec 31 – Jan 14
TomatoesTransplant · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Dec 17 – Dec 31
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Mar 11 – Mar 25
BeansSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Mar 4 – Mar 18
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Oct 10 – Oct 24
GarlicPlant cloves · Nov 21 – Dec 26
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Feb 25) and first fall frost (Dec 5) 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 85614 came on Jan 24 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Jan 28).

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 9a in Arizona

492 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive 20 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 9a. 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 109

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 197

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 151

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 Green Valley, AZ.

Soil in Green Valley, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85614 is Sonoita — gravelly sandy loam, well drained.

TextureGravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.5slightly alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupAwater soaks in fast
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Sonoita gravelly sandy loam, 1 to 8 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 85614; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Green Valley, AZ

Summer high93 °Faverage high, June
Winter low39 °Faverage low, December
Hot days74days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights17nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,863base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 14 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day10 h 04 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growShort-daysummer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb
Precipitation14 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 40 °F 61°40° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 45 °F 70°45° MarApril: average high 76 °F, low 50 °F 76°50° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 57 °F 84°57° MayJune: average high 93 °F, low 66 °F 93°66° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 69 °F 92°69° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 68 °F 89°68° AugSeptember: average high 87 °F, low 65 °F 87°65° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 56 °F 79°56° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 47 °F 69°47° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 39 °F 60°39° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.96 in precipitation 1.0 JanFebruary: 0.90 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 0.72 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.31 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.19 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.48 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 3.12 in precipitation 3.1 JulAugust: 3.06 in precipitation 3.1 AugSeptember: 1.76 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 0.74 in precipitation 0.7 OctNovember: 0.75 in precipitation 0.8 NovDecember: 1.02 in precipitation 1.0 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Santa Rita Exp Range, AZ (6 mi away); precipitation: Green Valley 3.2 Sw, AZ (5 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

ZIP codes in Green Valley

856149a
20 to 25 °F
856229a
20 to 25 °F

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about Green Valley

What planting zone is Green Valley, AZ?

Green Valley, AZ is in USDA hardiness zone 9a on the 2023 map (9a: 20 to 25 °F).

When is the last frost in Green Valley, AZ?

The median last spring frost is February 25 and the median first fall frost is December 5 (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Santa Rita Exp Range station).

When can I plant a garden in Green Valley, AZ?

Cool-season crops like peas and spinach go in around Jan 14 – Feb 4; tomatoes, peppers, beans and squash after about Mar 4, once frost risk has passed.

What kind of onions grow in Green Valley, AZ?

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

How much rain and snow does Green Valley, AZ get?

About 14 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals).