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

Planting zone for 86305 — Prescott, AZ

ZIP code 86305 (Prescott, Yavapai County) is in USDA zone 7b: the coldest winter night averages 5 to 10 °F. The median last spring frost is May 24 and the first fall frost October 7.

Where ZIP 86305 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.

Zone7b5 to 10 °F
Coldest night−15 to −12.2 °C
Last frostMay 24
First frostOct 7
2012 zone7b

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 7b means →

Frost forecast — next 7 nights

live from the National Weather Service

Loading the forecast for Prescott, 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 Prescott, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostMay 24median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsJune 11only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 7median — 10% chance by Sep 27
Growing season135 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around May 6 and returns around October 18.

From the NOAA station Walnut Creek, AZ — 11 miles away, elevation 5,089 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 86305

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Apr 12 – Apr 26
SpinachSow outdoors · Apr 12 – May 3
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · May 3 – May 17
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
PotatoesPlant outdoors · May 3 – May 17
LettuceSow outdoors · Apr 26 – May 10
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · May 3 – May 17
TomatoesStart indoors · Mar 29 – Apr 12
TomatoesTransplant · May 31 – Jun 14
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Mar 15 – Mar 29
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Jun 7 – Jun 21
BeansSow outdoors · May 31 – Jun 14
Sweet cornSow outdoors · May 31 – Jun 14
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · May 31 – Jun 14
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Aug 12 – Aug 26
GarlicPlant cloves · Sep 23 – Oct 28
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (May 24) and first fall frost (Oct 7) 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 86305 came on Feb 8 — 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25).

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 7b in Arizona

459 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 7b. 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 142

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 Prescott, AZ.

Soil in Prescott, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 86305 is Thunderbird — cobbly clay loam, well drained.

TextureCobbly clay loamholds water and nutrients; slow to drain and warm up
pH7.2neutral; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1.5%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupDwater soaks in very slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Thunderbird-Cabezon complex, 0 to 15 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 86305; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Prescott, AZ

Summer high92 °Faverage high, July
Winter low21 °Faverage low, December
Hot days62days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights168nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days2,929base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 mindaylight on June 21
Shortest day9 h 49 mindaylight on December 21
Onions to growIntermediateday-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully
Precipitation14.8 inper year, rain and melted snow
Snowfall6 inper year

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°32 °FJanuary: average high 54 °F, low 22 °F 54°22° JanFebruary: average high 58 °F, low 24 °F 58°24° FebMarch: average high 65 °F, low 27 °F 65°27° MarApril: average high 72 °F, low 31 °F 72°31° AprMay: average high 80 °F, low 38 °F 80°38° MayJune: average high 89 °F, low 44 °F 89°44° JunJuly: average high 92 °F, low 55 °F 92°55° JulAugust: average high 90 °F, low 54 °F 90°54° AugSeptember: average high 85 °F, low 46 °F 85°46° SepOctober: average high 75 °F, low 35 °F 75°35° OctNovember: average high 63 °F, low 25 °F 63°25° NovDecember: average high 53 °F, low 21 °F 53°21° Dec

Precipitation by month inches · ❄ = snowfall

0″1″2″3″January: 1.51 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 1.5 JanFebruary: 1.86 in precipitation, 1.8 in snowfall 1.9❄2 FebMarch: 1.15 in precipitation, 1 in snowfall 1.1❄1 MarApril: 0.56 in precipitation, 0.5 in snowfall 0.6❄1 AprMay: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.25 in precipitation 0.3 JunJuly: 1.84 in precipitation 1.8 JulAugust: 2.57 in precipitation 2.6 AugSeptember: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 1.00 in precipitation 1.0 OctNovember: 0.89 in precipitation, 0.3 in snowfall 0.9 NovDecember: 1.23 in precipitation, 1.6 in snowfall 1.2❄2 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Walnut Creek, AZ (11 mi away); precipitation: Walnut Creek, AZ (11 mi away). Daylight is calculated from latitude.

Nearby ZIP codes

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

863388a
Skull Valley, AZ · 14 mi
863348a
Paulden, AZ · 17 mi
863047b
Prescott, AZ · 19 mi
863238a
Chino Valley, AZ · 20 mi
863027b
Prescott, AZ · 20 mi
863408b
Sedona, AZ · 21 mi
863017b
Prescott, AZ · 23 mi
863137b
Prescott, AZ · 23 mi

All 6 ZIP codes in Prescott → · Arizona planting zones →

Questions about 86305

What planting zone is ZIP code 86305?

ZIP code 86305 (Prescott, AZ) is in USDA hardiness zone 7b on the 2023 map: the coldest night of an average winter reaches 5 to 10 °F (−15 to −12.2 °C).

When is the last frost in Prescott, AZ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 86305 is May 24; after June 11 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Walnut Creek station.

When is the first frost in Prescott, AZ?

The median first fall frost near 86305 is October 7, giving a median frost-free growing season of 135 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 86305?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Mar 29 – Apr 12 and set transplants outside around May 31 – Jun 14, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 86305 get?

About 14.8 inches of precipitation a year and 6 inches of snowfall (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Walnut Creek station).

How hot do summers get in Prescott, AZ?

The average high peaks at 92 °F in July, with about 62 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 86305 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Thunderbird at the center of ZIP 86305: cobbly clay loam, well drained, pH about 7.2 (neutral).

Did spring come early in Prescott, AZ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 86305 came on Feb 8 in 2026, 17 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 25), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Prescott, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 86305 is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.