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

Planting zone for 85554 — Young, AZ

ZIP code 85554 (Young, Gila County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is May 6 and the first fall frost October 20.

Where ZIP 85554 is

Outlined: the ZIP code area · 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.

Zone8a10 to 15 °F
Coldest night−12.2 to −9.4 °C
Last frostMay 6
First frostOct 20
2012 zone7a

Was 7a on the 2012 map — a full zone warmer now. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Young, 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 Young, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 6median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 28only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 20median — 10% chance by Oct 6
Growing season165 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 12 and returns around November 1.

From the NOAA station Pleasant Valley, AZ — 7 miles away, elevation 5,184 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 85554

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 8
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 25 – Apr 15
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 15 – Apr 29
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 8 – Apr 22
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 15 – Apr 29
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 11 – Mar 25
TomatoesTransplant · May 13 – May 27
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 25 – Mar 11
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 20 – Jun 3
BeansSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 13 – May 27
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 25 – Sep 8
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 6 – Nov 10
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 6) and first fall frost (Oct 20) 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 85554 came on Feb 8 — 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 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 8a in Arizona

472 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive 10 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 8a. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 24

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 100

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 195

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 eelgrass1 ft · blooms mid summer · high shade tolerance · to −33 °F

Grasses 144

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 Young, AZ.

Soil in Young, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85554 is Lithic Argiustolls — extremely cobbly loam, well drained.

TextureExtremely cobbly loama good balance for most vegetables
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter3%moderate
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Lithic Argiustolls, Typic Haplustolls, and Aridic Calciustolls; warm mesic ustic mountains.

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 85554; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Young, AZ

Summer high88 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, January
Hot days52days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights157nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,124base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 25 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 53 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation20.4 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall9 inper year; 1 days with snow on the ground

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 53 °F, low 25 °F 53°25° JanFebruary: average high 56 °F, low 27 °F 56°27° FebMarch: average high 61 °F, low 31 °F 61°31° MarApril: average high 68 °F, low 36 °F 68°36° AprMay: average high 76 °F, low 42 °F 76°42° MayJune: average high 86 °F, low 49 °F 86°49° JunJuly: average high 88 °F, low 59 °F 88°59° JulAugust: average high 87 °F, low 59 °F 87°59° AugSeptember: average high 82 °F, low 52 °F 82°52° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 40 °F 72°40° OctNovember: average high 62 °F, low 30 °F 62°30° NovDecember: average high 52 °F, low 25 °F 52°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″4″January: 2.25 in precipitation, 1.2 in snowfall 2.3❄1 JanFebruary: 2.24 in precipitation, 4.2 in snowfall 2.2❄4 FebMarch: 1.85 in precipitation, 2 in snowfall 1.9❄2 MarApril: 0.69 in precipitation, 0.7 in snowfall 0.7❄1 AprMay: 0.58 in precipitation 0.6 MayJune: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 JunJuly: 3.44 in precipitation 3.4 JulAugust: 3.02 in precipitation 3.0 AugSeptember: 1.70 in precipitation 1.7 SepOctober: 1.13 in precipitation 1.1 OctNovember: 1.44 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.4 NovDecember: 1.85 in precipitation, 0.2 in snowfall 1.9 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Pleasant Valley, AZ (7 mi away); precipitation: Pleasant Valley, AZ (7 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

7 of the 8 nearest ZIP codes are in a different zone — elevation and distance from water change winter lows quickly.

855539a
Tonto Basin, AZ · 19 mi
855478a
Payson, AZ · 24 mi
855418b
Payson, AZ · 25 mi
859316b
Forest Lakes, AZ · 26 mi
855459b
Roosevelt, AZ · 31 mi
855019a
Globe, AZ · 33 mi
859117a
Cibecue, AZ · 34 mi
852649b
Fort Mcdowell, AZ · 35 mi

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about 85554

What planting zone is ZIP code 85554?

ZIP code 85554 (Young, AZ) is in USDA hardiness zone 8a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 10 to 15 °F (−12.2 to −9.4 °C).

When is the last frost in Young, AZ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 85554 is May 6; after May 28 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pleasant Valley station.

When is the first frost in Young, AZ?

The median first fall frost near 85554 is October 20, giving a median frost-free growing season of 165 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 85554?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 11 – Mar 25 and set transplants outside around May 13 – May 27, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 85554 get?

About 20.4 inches of precipitation a year and 9 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Pleasant Valley station).

How hot do summers get in Young, AZ?

The average high peaks at 88 °F in July, with about 52 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 85554 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Lithic Argiustolls at the center of ZIP 85554: extremely cobbly loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Young, AZ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 85554 came on Feb 8 in 2026, 16 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 24), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Young, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 85554 is 14 h 25 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 85554 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 85554 in zone 7a; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.