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

Planting zone for 86342 — Lake Montezuma, AZ

ZIP code 86342 (Lake Montezuma, Yavapai County) is in USDA zone 8a: the coldest winter night averages 10 to 15 °F. The median last spring frost is April 16 and the first fall frost October 30.

Where ZIP 86342 is

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 frostApr 16
First frostOct 30
2012 zone8b

Was 8b on the 2012 map — half a zone colder 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 Lake Montezuma, 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 Lake Montezuma, AZ

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Blue: frost possible · fading green: frost risk falling or rising (90% → 10%) · green: frost-free
Last spring frostApril 16median — 50% chance of a later frost
Safe for tender plantsMay 2only 10% chance of frost after
First fall frostOctober 30median — 10% chance by Oct 15
Growing season196 daysfrost-free, median

A hard freeze (28 °F) usually ends around March 21 and returns around November 10.

From the NOAA station Montezuma Castle Nm, AZ — 4 miles away, elevation 3,179 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 86342

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PeasSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 19
SpinachSow outdoors · Mar 5 – Mar 26
Broccoli, cabbageStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Broccoli, cabbageTransplant · Mar 26 – Apr 9
Onion setsPlant outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
PotatoesPlant outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
LettuceSow outdoors · Mar 19 – Apr 2
Carrots, beetsSow outdoors · Mar 26 – Apr 9
TomatoesStart indoors · Feb 19 – Mar 5
TomatoesTransplant · Apr 23 – May 7
Peppers, eggplantStart indoors · Feb 5 – Feb 19
Peppers, eggplantTransplant · Apr 30 – May 14
BeansSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Sweet cornSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Cucumbers, squashSow outdoors · Apr 23 – May 7
Fall lettuce, spinachSow outdoors · Sep 4 – Sep 18
GarlicPlant cloves · Oct 16 – Nov 20
Start seeds indoorsSow or plant outdoorsFall plantingMedian last & first frost

Counted from the median last spring frost (Apr 16) and first fall frost (Oct 30) 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 86342 came on Feb 3 — 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7).

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 Lake Montezuma, AZ.

Soil in Lake Montezuma, AZ

The soil mapped at the center of ZIP 86342 is Karro — fine sandy loam, well drained.

TextureFine sandy loamdrains and warms fast; dries out and needs more feeding
pH8.2alkaline; most vegetables like 6.0–7.0
DrainageWell drainednatural drainage class
Organic matter1%low — add compost
Hydrologic groupCwater soaks in slowly
Farmland classNot prime farmlandUSDA classification

Map unit: Karro and laveen fine sandy loams.

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 86342; soils change within a few hundred feet, so a home soil test (pH, nutrients) is still the best guide.

Climate in Lake Montezuma, AZ

Summer high101 °Faverage high, July
Winter low25 °Faverage low, December
Hot days135days a year at 90 °F or more
Freezing nights99nights a year at 32 °F or less
Growing degree days4,958base 50 °F — the season’s usable heat
Longest day14 h 29 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
Precipitation13.2 inper year, rain and melted snow

Average high and low, by month

10°20°30°40°50°60°70°80°90°100°110°32 °FJanuary: average high 61 °F, low 26 °F 61°26° JanFebruary: average high 65 °F, low 29 °F 65°29° FebMarch: average high 72 °F, low 35 °F 72°35° MarApril: average high 79 °F, low 40 °F 79°40° AprMay: average high 88 °F, low 47 °F 88°47° MayJune: average high 98 °F, low 54 °F 98°54° JunJuly: average high 101 °F, low 64 °F 101°64° JulAugust: average high 99 °F, low 63 °F 99°63° AugSeptember: average high 93 °F, low 55 °F 93°55° SepOctober: average high 82 °F, low 43 °F 82°43° OctNovember: average high 69 °F, low 32 °F 69°32° NovDecember: average high 59 °F, low 25 °F 59°25° Dec

Precipitation by month inches

0″1″2″3″January: 1.36 in precipitation 1.4 JanFebruary: 1.28 in precipitation 1.3 FebMarch: 1.15 in precipitation 1.1 MarApril: 0.49 in precipitation 0.5 AprMay: 0.40 in precipitation 0.4 MayJune: 0.19 in precipitation 0.2 JunJuly: 1.52 in precipitation 1.5 JulAugust: 2.13 in precipitation 2.1 AugSeptember: 1.49 in precipitation 1.5 SepOctober: 0.95 in precipitation 0.9 OctNovember: 0.71 in precipitation 0.7 NovDecember: 1.50 in precipitation 1.5 Dec

NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020 — temperature: Montezuma Castle Nm, AZ (4 mi away); precipitation: Montezuma Castle Nm, AZ (4 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.

863358a
Rimrock, AZ · 7 mi
863258b
Cornville, AZ · 9 mi
863418b
Sedona, AZ · 9 mi
863518b
Sedona, AZ · 9 mi
863228b
Camp Verde, AZ · 12 mi
863268b
Cottonwood, AZ · 13 mi
863398b
Sedona, AZ · 16 mi
863368b
Sedona, AZ · 17 mi

Arizona planting zones →

Questions about 86342

What planting zone is ZIP code 86342?

ZIP code 86342 (Lake Montezuma, 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 Lake Montezuma, AZ?

The median last spring frost (32 °F) near 86342 is April 16; after May 2 there is only a 10% chance of frost. Data: NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montezuma Castle Nm station.

When is the first frost in Lake Montezuma, AZ?

The median first fall frost near 86342 is October 30, giving a median frost-free growing season of 196 days.

When should I plant tomatoes in 86342?

Start tomato seeds indoors around Feb 19 – Mar 5 and set transplants outside around Apr 23 – May 7, one to three weeks after the median last frost.

How much rain and snow does 86342 get?

About 13.2 inches of precipitation a year (NOAA 1991–2020 normals, Montezuma Castle Nm station).

How hot do summers get in Lake Montezuma, AZ?

The average high peaks at 101 °F in July, with about 135 days a year at 90 °F or more.

What kind of soil does 86342 have?

The USDA soil survey maps Karro at the center of ZIP 86342: fine sandy loam, well drained, pH about 8.2 (alkaline).

Did spring come early in Lake Montezuma, AZ in 2026?

Spring leaf-out near 86342 came on Feb 3 in 2026, 4 days earlier than the 1991–2020 average (Feb 7), according to the USA National Phenology Network Spring Index.

What kind of onions grow in Lake Montezuma, AZ?

Intermediate onions: the longest day near 86342 is 14 h 29 min, so day-neutral types bulb best; long-day varieties may not bulb fully.

Did the zone for 86342 change?

Yes. The 2012 USDA map put 86342 in zone 8b; the 2023 map puts it in zone 8a. The newer map uses 1991–2020 data and more weather stations.