When to plant potatoes in Arizona
Arizona’s average last spring frost is March 15, and the first fall frost typically arrives around November 15 — about 245 frost-free days (USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10b). Potato needs 70–120 days to mature, which fits comfortably within Arizona's growing season.
Arizona covers a wide range of climates, so your exact frost dates may differ from the state average by two weeks or more. For dates tuned to your town, use the calendar generator.
When to plant potatoes in Arizona: the short answer
For a spring planting, sow Feb 24 – Mar 15. Seeds germinate in soil from 45 to 80°F.
Windows are ~1–2 week bands around each date. Frost dates are a statewide average from NOAA/NCEI normals; your town may differ by two weeks or more. Calendar year 2026.
How to grow potatoes in Arizona, step by step
- Prepare the bed. They need at least six to eight hours of direct sun a day and loose soil at least 18 inches deep, with a pH between 4.8 and 6.5. Dig in compost before planting.
- Sow outdoors (Feb 24 – Mar 15). Space plants about 12 inches apart in rows 32 inches apart, sowing seed 4 inches deep. It tolerates a light frost but not a hard freeze. As a cool-season crop it does best before summer heat arrives in Arizona.
- Water and feed. Give it steady, even moisture, about an inch of water a week from rain or the hose.
- Watch for pests and problems. Pests: Colorado potato beetle, flea beetle, wireworm, aphids. Diseases and disorders: late blight, early blight, common scab, blackleg.
- Harvest (from about May 10 – Jun 29). Potato takes 70-120 days to reach harvest. Plant certified seed potatoes, not grocery-store ones. Hill soil or mulch over the stems as they grow to stop greening. New potatoes ~10 weeks in; storage potatoes after the tops die back.
Figures come from our crop data; dates use Arizona’s average frost dates. More in the full potato growing guide.
Potato planting dates by USDA zone in Arizona
Arizona spans USDA zones 4b, 5b, 6b, 7b, 8b, 9b, 10b. Colder zones, usually higher or further inland, have a later last spring frost and an earlier first fall frost than the state average, so the potato dates shift with them.
| Zone | Last frost | First frost | Season | Start indoors | Plant potato |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 4 | May 10 | Sep 25 | 135 days | - | Apr 21 – May 10 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 | Oct 5 | 160 days | - | Apr 11 – Apr 30 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 | Oct 15 | 185 days | - | Mar 27 – Apr 15 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 | Oct 25 | 200 days | - | Mar 17 – Apr 5 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 | Nov 5 | 230 days | - | Mar 1 – Mar 20 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 | Nov 30 | 280 days | - | Feb 1 – Feb 20 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 | Dec 15 | 330 days | - | Jan 11 – Jan 30 |
When to plant potatoes in nearby states
| State | Last frost | Sow |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona (this page) | March 15 | Feb 24 – Mar 15 |
| New Mexico | April 20 | Apr 1 – Apr 20 |
Questions gardeners in Arizona ask
When is the best time to plant potatoes in Arizona?
Sow potatoes in Arizona between February 24 and March 15. That timing is set by Arizona's average last spring frost of March 15; Arizona spans several climates, so cooler and higher parts of the state run later.
When will potatoes planted in Arizona be ready to harvest?
Planted on time, potatoes are usually ready from about May 10 to June 29, 70-120 days after sowing.
When is the last frost in Arizona?
On average around March 15, with the first fall frost around November 15 - about 245 frost-free days. Your town may differ by two weeks or more.