When to plant pumpkins in Arizona

Pumpkins
Sow outdoors in Phoenix
Feb 15–Mar 1

Across Arizona the window opens between February 15 and June 18. Find your city below; the dates follow each town's own average last frost.

Sow outdoors, Phoenix
Feb 15–Mar 1
Last sowing for a harvest
Aug 13
Last frost, Phoenix
Jan 8

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. For Halloween pumpkins, count back the variety's days to maturity from late September.

Pumpkins planting dates by city

Start indoorsPlant outSow outdoorsFall plantingAverage last and first frost
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
PhoenixFeb 15–Mar 1
TucsonFeb 19–Mar 5
GilbertFeb 15–Mar 1
ChandlerFeb 27–Mar 13
GlendaleFeb 15–Mar 1
ScottsdaleFeb 15–Mar 1
TempeFeb 27–Mar 13
GoodyearFeb 15–Mar 1
San Tan ValleyFeb 15–Mar 1
AvondaleFeb 15–Mar 1
Queen CreekFeb 15–Mar 1
MaricopaMar 9–Mar 23
FlagstaffJun 18–Jul 2
Casas AdobesMar 12–Mar 26
Casa GrandeFeb 19–Mar 5
Lake Havasu CityFeb 15–Mar 1
Prescott ValleyMay 14–May 28
Catalina FoothillsMar 6–Mar 20
PrescottMay 14–May 28
Sierra VistaApr 19–May 3
Bullhead CityFeb 15–Mar 1
Sun CityFeb 15–Mar 1
KingmanApr 16–Apr 30
El MirageFeb 15–Mar 1
Fortuna FoothillsFeb 15–Mar 1
Drexel HeightsFeb 19–Mar 5
FlorenceFeb 15–Mar 1
Rio RicoApr 30–May 14

In Flagstaff the frost-free season is shorter than pumpkins need. Start plants indoors and pick early varieties.

Questions

When should I plant pumpkins in Arizona?

In Phoenix, sow outdoors from February 15 to March 1. Across Arizona the window opens between February 15 and June 18, depending on the local last frost.

How is this date worked out?

Sow outdoors 2–4 weeks after the last frost. Frost dates are NOAA 1991–2020 averages for the weather station nearest each city.

Is the season long enough for pumpkins everywhere in Arizona?

Not quite. In Flagstaff the frost-free season is shorter than the time pumpkins need to ripen. Start plants indoors and pick an early variety.

More for Arizona

Pumpkins in other states

Frost dates for every city in Arizona