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

Planting zone for 86044 — Tonalea, AZ

ZIP code 86044 (Tonalea, Coconino County) is in USDA zone 7a: the coldest winter night averages 0 to 5 °F. The median last spring frost is May 7 and the first fall frost October 15.

Where ZIP 86044 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.

Zone7a0 to 5 °F
Coldest night−17.8 to −15 °C
Last frostMay 7
First frostOct 15
2012 zone7a

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 7a means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Tonalea, 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 Tonalea, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 7median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 26only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 15median — 10% chance by Sep 30
Growing season159 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around April 28 and returns around October 27.

From the NOAA station Betatakin, AZ — 15 miles away, elevation 7,287 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 86044

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 16
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Apr 16 – Apr 30
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 9 – Apr 23
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Apr 16 – Apr 30
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 12 – Mar 26
TomatoesTransplant · May 14 – May 28
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 26 – Mar 12
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · May 21 – Jun 4
BeansSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 14 – May 28
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 20 – Sep 3
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 1 – Nov 5
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 7) and first fall frost (Oct 15) 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 86044 came on Mar 1 — 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16).

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 7a in Arizona

457 plants native to the lower 48 states, recorded in Arizona, and rated by the USDA to survive 0 °F or colder — the bottom of zone 7a. 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 95

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 190

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 140

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 Tonalea, AZ.

Soil in Tonalea, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 86044 is Nalcase — fine sand, somewhat excessively drained.

TextureFine sanddrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageSomewhat excessively drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter0.8%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Rock outcrop-Mathis-Nalcase complex, 10 to 50 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 86044; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Tonalea, AZ

Summer high86 °Faverage high, July
Winter low22 °Faverage low, January
Hot days17days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights139nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,825base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 41 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 39 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation11.1 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall36 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° JanFebruary: average high 44 °F, low 25 °F 44°25° FebMarch: average high 53 °F, low 30 °F 53°30° MarApril: average high 61 °F, low 35 °F 61°35° AprMay: average high 71 °F, low 44 °F 71°44° MayJune: average high 82 °F, low 55 °F 82°55° JunJuly: average high 86 °F, low 60 °F 86°60° JulAugust: average high 83 °F, low 58 °F 83°58° AugSeptember: average high 76 °F, low 52 °F 76°52° SepOctober: average high 64 °F, low 41 °F 64°41° OctNovember: average high 51 °F, low 30 °F 51°30° NovDecember: average high 40 °F, low 22 °F 40°22° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″January: 1.17 in precipitation, 8.3 in snowfall 1.2❄8 JanFebruary: 1.03 in precipitation, 9.1 in snowfall 1.0❄9 FebMarch: 0.79 in precipitation, 3.7 in snowfall 0.8❄4 MarApril: 0.64 in precipitation, 3.3 in snowfall 0.6❄3 AprMay: 0.58 in precipitation, 0.4 in snowfall 0.6 MayJune: 0.18 in precipitation 0.2 JunJuly: 1.23 in precipitation 1.2 JulAugust: 1.45 in precipitation 1.4 AugSeptember: 1.23 in precipitation 1.2 SepOctober: 0.96 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.0 OctNovember: 0.69 in precipitation, 3.2 in snowfall 0.7❄3 NovDecember: 1.16 in precipitation, 7.2 in snowfall 1.2❄7 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Betatakin, AZ (15 mi away); precipitation: Betatakin, AZ (15 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

860547a
Shonto, AZ · 11 mi
860537b
Kaibeto, AZ · 14 mi
860337a
Kayenta, AZ · 31 mi
860407b
Page, AZ · 33 mi
845368a
Monument Valley, UT · 42 mi
860457b
Tuba City, AZ · 45 mi
865106b
Pinon, AZ · 46 mi
845338a
Lake Powell, UT · 49 mi

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about 86044

What planting zone is ZIP code 86044?

ZIP code 86044 (Tonalea, AZ) is in USDA hardiness zone 7a on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 0 to 5 °F (−17.8 to −15 °C).

When is the last frost in Tonalea, AZ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 86044 is May 7; after May 26 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Betatakin station.

When is the first frost in Tonalea, AZ?

The median first fall frost near 86044 is October 15, giving a median frost-free growing season of 159 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 86044?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 12 – Mar 26 and set transplants outside around May 14 – May 28, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 86044 get?

About 11.1 inches of precipitation a year and 36 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Betatakin station).

How hot do summers get in Tonalea, AZ?

The average high peaks at 86 °F in July, with about 17 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 86044 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Nalcase at the center of ZIP 86044: fine sand, somewhat excessively drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Tonalea, AZ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 86044 came on Mar 1 in 2026, 15 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Mar 16), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Tonalea, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 86044 is 14 h 41 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.