Arizona · zones 5b–10a
When to plant zucchini in Arizona.
Sow between Feb 12 to May 28 in a typical year, keyed to Arizona's median last frost around Feb 5. A second, fall sowing fits Aug 1 to Aug 20. Dates below are state medians; your ZIP code shifts them by days to weeks.
The 2026 windows
Zucchini dates for a typical Arizona season.
Direct sow
Feb 12 to May 28
Keyed to the ~Feb 5 last frost. Sow 1" deep, 24" apart.
Fall round
Aug 1 to Aug 20
Counted back from the ~Nov 15 first frost.
Harvest
~50 days later
~8 lb per plant over ~5 weeks.
Arizona spans more than one climate: Zone 9 is the most common zone, but the state runs 5b to 10a. That's why the planner works from your ZIP code's frost dates, not your zone: mountain and coastal gardens in the same state can be three weeks apart.
In Arizona: watch for
The pests that find zucchini here.
With about 283 frost-free days, squash, summer spends longer in the ground here than in most of the country, which widens the window in which squash bugs can find it. Scout weekly from midseason and act on the first signs.
Gray shield bugs; leaves wilt and get crispy patches.
Organic fix: Lay a board out overnight and collect them at dawn; scrape bronze egg clusters off leaf undersides.
Sudden wilt with sawdust-like frass at the stem base.
Organic fix: Cover young plants; slit the stem to remove the grub, or inject Bt.
Yellow striped or spotted beetles chewing leaves and blossoms.
Organic fix: Row cover until the first female flowers open, then hand-pick.
White powder coating the leaves late in the season.
Organic fix: Space for airflow, water the soil rather than the leaves, use resistant varieties.
Your season math: Arizona gives zucchini about 283 frost-free days, and it needs roughly 50 days to a first harvest. That fits about 8 re-sown rounds across the season, so you can keep it coming instead of picking once.
Planting zucchini in Arizona: questions
When should I plant zucchini in Arizona?+
In a typical Arizona year, sow zucchini between Feb 12 to May 28, keyed to the state's median last frost around Feb 5. There's also a fall window: Aug 1 to Aug 20. Your exact dates shift with your ZIP code and microclimate.
What USDA zone is Arizona?+
Arizona spans zones 5b–10a, mostly zone 9. But frost dates, not zones, set planting time. The free planner uses your ZIP code's actual frost dates.
How many zucchini plants do I need?+
Depends who you're feeding. The crop page has exact counts per household size, or the free planner does the math for your family in about 60 seconds.