Henderson, Nevada: planting zone & frost dates
Henderson is in USDA plant hardiness zone 9b, where the average coldest winter night reaches 25 to 30°F (-3.9 to -1.1°C). The typical last spring frost is around Feb 14 and the first fall frost around Nov 28.
Frost dates
| Probability | Last spring frost (32°F) | First fall frost (32°F) |
|---|---|---|
| Safer (10% risk) | Feb 27 | Nov 19 |
| Typical planning date (30% risk) | Feb 14 | Nov 28 |
| Median (50%) | Feb 4 | Dec 5 |
How to read this: after the spring "10% risk" date, a 32°F frost happens in only about 1 year in 10. In fall, the "10% risk" date is the early end — a frost before it happens about 1 year in 10.
Frost data comes from NOAA station LAS VEGAS WFO, NV (USC00264439), 9.2 mi (14.8 km) from the city center and 331 ft lower than the city center (-101 m). Record used for the 1991–2020 normals: 22 years.
Why your yard may differ from the station: microclimates.
Hardiness zone across Henderson
Henderson spans more than one half-zone. Share of the city's land area by zone (via its 10 ZIP codes): 9b (68%), 9a (32%). The headline zone is the one covering the most land. Look up your ZIP for your exact zone.
Vegetable planting calendar for Henderson
Dates are counted from the 30%-risk frost dates above (last frost Feb 14, first frost Nov 28). Shift a week later in cold spots or low-lying ground.
| Crop | Start indoors | Transplant / plant out | Direct sow | Fall crop sow/plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | — | — |
| Pepper | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | — | — |
| Lettuce Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Jan 31 – Feb 21 | Jan 17 – Feb 28 | Sep 19 – Oct 17 |
| Green Beans | — | — | Feb 21 – Mar 28 | Sep 5 – Sep 19 |
| Sweet Corn | — | — | Feb 21 – Mar 21 | — |
| Zucchini & Summer Squash | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | Feb 21 – Mar 7 | Feb 21 – Mar 14 | Sep 5 – Sep 19 |
| Cucumber | Jan 17 – Jan 24 | Feb 28 – Mar 7 | Feb 21 – Mar 14 | Sep 5 – Sep 19 |
| Carrot Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 24 – Feb 28 | Sep 5 – Sep 19 |
| Onion Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Nov 22 – Dec 6 | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | — |
| Potato Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | Jan 17 – Feb 7 | — | — |
| Basil | Jan 3 – Jan 17 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | Feb 28 – Mar 21 | — |
| Spinach Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 3 – Jan 31 | Oct 3 – Oct 31 |
| Kale Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Jan 17 – Feb 7 | Jan 17 – Feb 7 | Sep 19 – Oct 17 |
| Broccoli Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Jan 31 – Feb 21 | — | Sep 5 – Sep 19 |
| Peas Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 3 – Jan 24 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
| Eggplant | Dec 6 – Dec 20 | Feb 28 – Mar 14 | — | — |
| Cabbage Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | Dec 20 – Jan 3 | Jan 17 – Jan 31 | — | Sep 5 – Sep 19 |
| Radish Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 10 – Feb 28 | Oct 17 – Nov 14 |
| Strawberry | — | Jan 17 – Feb 7 | — | — |
| Beets Mild winters: fall and winter plantings are usually more reliable than spring. | — | — | Jan 24 – Mar 7 | Sep 19 – Oct 3 |
Nearby cities in Nevada
- North Las Vegas — zone 9b, last frost Feb 11, first frost Dec 1
- Las Vegas — zone 9a, last frost Feb 4, first frost Dec 4
- Sparks — zone 7a, last frost May 8, first frost Oct 5
- Reno — zone 7b, last frost May 6, first frost Oct 21
More: all Nevada cities · other zone 9b cities: Houston, TX, Phoenix, AZ, Jacksonville, FL, San Jose, CA, Fresno, CA, Sacramento, CA, Mesa, AZ, Bakersfield, CA
Henderson gardening questions
When is the last frost in Henderson, NV?
Plan around Feb 14. At NOAA's Las Vegas Wfo, NV station, 9.2 mi from the city center, there is a 30% chance of a 32°F frost after that date. Half of springs have their last frost by Feb 4, and after Feb 27 the risk drops to about 1 in 10. A hard freeze (28°F) usually ends earlier, around Jan 13. Springs here are erratic: 48 days separate the 90% and 10% dates, versus a median of 36 days for cities on this site, so watch the forecast rather than the calendar.
When should I plant tomatoes in Henderson, NV?
Start seeds indoors Dec 20 – Jan 3 and set transplants outside Feb 21 – Mar 7, once nights stay above 50°F and the soil is near 60°F. With about 287 frost-free days, frost is not the main limit — fruit set drops when nights stay above about 75°F, so early plantings tend to do best. More: tomato planting dates by zone.
How long is the growing season in Henderson?
About 302 days without a 32°F frost in a typical (median) year. In 9 years out of 10 the season lasts at least 273 days, and in 1 year in 10 it runs 331 days or more. In fall there is a 10% chance of frost by Nov 19 and a 30% chance by Nov 28. That ranks 3rd longest of 5 Nevada cities on this site.
When should I plant a fall garden in Henderson?
Count back from the first fall frost (Nov 28): transplant broccoli Sep 5 – Sep 19; sow kale Sep 19 – Oct 17; sow lettuce Sep 19 – Oct 17; sow radishes Oct 17 – Nov 14. Hardy crops keep growing through light frosts; the median 28°F hard freeze here is Dec 20. How the math works: succession and fall planting.
Did Henderson's hardiness zone change on the 2023 map?
Yes. Most of Henderson was zone 9a on the 2012 map and is zone 9b on the 2023 map — half a zone warmer, like about 56% of U.S. ZIP codes. The shift comes from a newer 1991–2020 averaging period plus more weather stations and better mapping; it does not mean last frost comes earlier. Why the 2023 map is warmer.
Is all of Henderson in zone 9b?
No. Zone 9b covers about 68% of the city's land; the rest is in 9a (32%), measured across the city's 10 ZIP codes. Check your own ZIP code in the table above or with the ZIP lookup.