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

Planting zone for 85936 — Saint Johns, AZ

ZIP code 85936 (Saint Johns, Apache County) is in USDA zone 6b: the coldest winter night averages −5 to 0 °F. The median last spring frost is May 3 and the first fall frost October 10.

Where ZIP 85936 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.

Zone6b−5 to 0 °F
Coldest night−20.6 to −17.8 °C
Last frostMay 3
First frostOct 10
2012 zone6b

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 6b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Saint Johns, 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 Saint Johns, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 3median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 19only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 10median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season160 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 21 and returns around October 20.

From the NOAA station St Johns Industrial Airport, AZ — 7 miles away, elevation 5,732 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 85936

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 5
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 22 – Apr 12
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 12 – Apr 26
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 5 – Apr 19
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 8 – Mar 22
TomatoesTransplant · May 10 – May 24
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 22 – Mar 8
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 17 – May 31
BeansSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 10 – May 24
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 15 – Aug 29
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 26 – Oct 31
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 3) and first fall frost (Oct 10) 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 85936 came on Feb 28 — 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8).

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 6b in Arizona

441 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive −5 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 6b. Each links to its USDA PLANTS profile.

Trees 23

Arizona cypress50 ft · blooms spring · low shade tolerance · to −23 °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 °Fboxelder60 ft · blooms early spring · low shade tolerance · to −46 °F

Shrubs 87

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 187

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 137

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 Saint Johns, AZ.

Soil in Saint Johns, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 85936 is Clovis — loamy sand, well drained.

TextureLoamy sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.75%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupBwater soaks in moderately
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Clovis loamy sand, 0 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 85936; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Saint Johns, AZ

Summer high91 °Faverage high, July
Winter low18 °Faverage low, December
Hot days61days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights142nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days3,361base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 28 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 50 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation9.1 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 50 °F, low 19 °F 50°19° JanFebruary: average high 55 °F, low 23 °F 55°23° FebMarch: average high 62 °F, low 28 °F 62°28° MarApril: average high 70 °F, low 35 °F 70°35° AprMay: average high 79 °F, low 44 °F 79°44° MayJune: average high 90 °F, low 53 °F 90°53° JunJuly: average high 91 °F, low 61 °F 91°61° JulAugust: average high 88 °F, low 59 °F 88°59° AugSeptember: average high 83 °F, low 50 °F 83°50° SepOctober: average high 72 °F, low 37 °F 72°37° OctNovember: average high 60 °F, low 26 °F 60°26° NovDecember: average high 49 °F, low 18 °F 49°18° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 JanFebruary: 0.53 in precipitation 0.5 FebMarch: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 MarApril: 0.29 in precipitation 0.3 AprMay: 0.43 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.18 in precipitation 0.2 JunJuly: 1.41 in precipitation 1.4 JulAugust: 2.08 in precipitation 2.1 AugSeptember: 1.13 in precipitation 1.1 SepOctober: 0.69 in precipitation 0.7 OctNovember: 0.61 in precipitation 0.6 NovDecember: 0.88 in precipitation 0.9 Dec

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

Nearby ZIP codes

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

859247a
Concho, AZ · 22 mi
859386b
Springerville, AZ · 30 mi
859406b
Vernon, AZ · 33 mi
865126b
Sanders, AZ · 35 mi
859127a
White Mountain Lake, AZ · 37 mi
859256a
Eagar, AZ · 40 mi
865027a
Chambers, AZ · 42 mi
860287a
Petrified Forest Natl Pk, AZ · 43 mi

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about 85936

What planting zone is ZIP code 85936?

ZIP code 85936 (Saint Johns, AZ) is in USDA hardiness zone 6b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches −5 to 0 °F (−20.6 to −17.8 °C).

When is the last frost in Saint Johns, AZ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 85936 is May 3; after May 19 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, St Johns Industrial Airport station.

When is the first frost in Saint Johns, AZ?

The median first fall frost near 85936 is October 10, giving a median frost-free growing season of 160 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 85936?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 8 – Mar 22 and set transplants outside around May 10 – May 24, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 85936 get?

About 9.1 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, St Johns Industrial Airport station).

How hot do summers get in Saint Johns, AZ?

The average high peaks at 91 °F in July, with about 61 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 85936 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Clovis at the center of ZIP 85936: loamy sand, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Saint Johns, AZ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 85936 came on Feb 28 in 2026, 8 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 8), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Saint Johns, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 85936 is 14 h 28 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.