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

Planting zone for 85616 — Huachuca City, AZ

ZIP code 85616 (Huachuca City, Cochise County) is in USDA zone 8b: the coldest winter night averages 15 to 20 °F. The median last spring frost is March 16 and the first fall frost November 21.

Where ZIP 85616 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.

Zone8b15 to 20 °F
Coldest night−9.4 to −6.7 °C
Last frostMar 16
First frostNov 21
2012 zone8b

Same zone as on the 2012 map. The zone is the one at the center of the ZIP code; hilly ZIPs can span two zones. What zone 8b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Huachuca City, 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 Huachuca City, 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 — 9 miles away, 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 85616

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 85616 came on Jan 31 — about the same time as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2).

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 Huachuca City, AZ.

Soil in Huachuca City, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85616 is Libby — very gravelly sandy loam, well drained.

TextureVery gravelly sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH7.9alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.25%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Libby-Gulch complex, 0 to 10 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 85616; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Huachuca City, AZ

Summer high93 °Faverage high, June
Winter low34 °Faverage low, January
Hot days70days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights34nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days5,082base 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
Precipitation15.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 34 °F 61°34° JanFebruary: average high 64 °F, low 36 °F 64°36° FebMarch: average high 70 °F, low 40 °F 70°40° MarApril: average high 77 °F, low 45 °F 77°45° AprMay: average high 84 °F, low 52 °F 84°52° MayJune: average high 93 °F, low 62 °F 93°62° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 66 °F 91°66° JulAugust: average high 89 °F, low 64 °F 89°64° AugSeptember: average high 86 °F, low 60 °F 86°60° SepOctober: average high 79 °F, low 50 °F 79°50° OctNovember: average high 68 °F, low 41 °F 68°41° NovDecember: average high 60 °F, low 34 °F 60°34° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″4″January: 0.93 in precipitation 0.9 JanFebruary: 0.92 in precipitation 0.9 FebMarch: 0.67 in precipitation 0.7 MarApril: 0.24 in precipitation 0.2 AprMay: 0.21 in precipitation 0.2 MayJune: 0.51 in precipitation 0.5 JunJuly: 3.46 in precipitation 3.5 JulAugust: 3.87 in precipitation 3.9 AugSeptember: 1.78 in precipitation 1.8 SepOctober: 0.85 in precipitation 0.8 OctNovember: 0.63 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 1.05 in precipitation 1.1 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Ft Huachuca Pioneer Airfield, AZ (9 mi away); precipitation: Whetstone 2.6 Sw, AZ (4 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

856368b
Sierra Vista, AZ · 3 mi
856718b
Sierra Vista, AZ · 10 mi
856118a
Elgin, AZ · 12 mi
856138b
Fort Huachuca, AZ · 13 mi
856358b
Sierra Vista, AZ · 14 mi
856308b
Saint David, AZ · 15 mi
856388b
Tombstone, AZ · 16 mi
856508b
Sierra Vista, AZ · 16 mi

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about 85616

What planting zone is ZIP code 85616?

ZIP code 85616 (Huachuca City, AZ) is in USDA hardiness zone 8b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 15 to 20 °F (−9.4 to −6.7 °C).

When is the last frost in Huachuca City, AZ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 85616 is March 16; after April 12 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Ft Huachuca Pioneer Airfield station.

When is the first frost in Huachuca City, AZ?

The median first fall frost near 85616 is November 21, giving a median frost-free growing season of 246 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 85616?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Jan 19 – Feb 2 and set transplants outside around Mar 23 – Apr 6, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 85616 get?

About 15.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Whetstone 2.6 Sw station).

How hot do summers get in Huachuca City, AZ?

The average high peaks at 93 °F in June, with about 70 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 85616 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Libby at the center of ZIP 85616: very gravelly sandy loam, well drained, pH about 7.9 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Huachuca City, AZ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 85616 came on Jan 31 in 2026, about the same as the 1991–2020 average (Feb 2), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Huachuca City, AZ?

Short-day onions: the longest day near 85616 is 14 h 13 min, so summer days stay under about 14 h 20 min, so long-day varieties won’t bulb.