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Desert Gardening

When to Harvest Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter Crops in the Southwest

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he warm, dry conditions prevalent over most of Arizona have given the state a reputation for having a limited choice for growing produce and gardening in general. However, its USDA Plant Hardiness Zones puts it in between Zones 5 to 9.

The extreme lower temperatures vary in Arizona from anywhere between -20 to 30 degrees, which means fruit and vegetable growers can successfully grow a wide range of plants depending on where they live by aligning their harvest with the seasons.

The northwestern and southwestern sides of Arizona experience the warmest temperatures, with colder temperatures to the north-eastern side.

The hot, dry temperatures of most of Arizona make it the perfect location for warm-weather vegetables. Mild winter temperatures also create conditions that are ripe for enjoying a year-round harvest.

Cool-weather vegetables like broccoli and spinach can thrive during the winter months, and heat-tolerant varieties like tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers will do well in the spring once the winter harvest is complete.

You can split Arizona into distinct growing seasons. January is an excellent time to start your cool-weather crop, while February through May is the time to plant and harvest your warm-weather loving vegetables.

The temperatures will start to rise around June and August, and there is not much that will tolerate the 100+ degrees Fahrenheit. Most of your vegetables will stop producing once the heat begins to swelter. Arizona gardeners should cut back their gardens during this time or transition to drought-tolerant varieties.

There are a few drought-resistant herbs that will do well in summer, such as Rosemary and Thyme. If you have an area of your garden that receives shade in the afternoon, then Basil and oregano will also help keep your summertime garden productive.


What to Plant and When in Arizona

You can enjoy a bountiful harvest for most of the year, but you will need to plan your planting and harvesting so you are only growing vegetables suited to the seasons. Here's a quick guide to growing delicious, organic produce in your Arizona garden all-year-round.


January

Arizona winters are short, so it's a busy time for gardeners. Prune your fruit trees and rosebushes and keep an eye on the weather reports because you may need to apply some frost protection.

You will still be gathering the last of your fall harvests, but you should have your spring and summer plantings already planned out.

January Planting

When January rolls around, it's time to get your lettuce, cabbage, carrots, radishes, and potatoes in the ground. Bare root plants like asparagus and strawberries should also be on your list.

January Harvests

Bok choy, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts should all be good to go by now, as well as the carrots you put in through September and October. Keep harvesting your kale to encourage new sprouts. The frosty nights will make your kale all the sweeter.

February

It's time for spring planting in Arizona. Frosts will be on the way out, so it's a good time to start planting frost-sensitive plants and make the most of the planting season. It's also a good idea to think about fertilizer.

February Plantings

The veggies you should be planting now include cucumbers, carrots, corn, eggplant, lettuce, summer squash, tomatoes, peppers, and beans. If you've been spacing out your plantings, you still have some time for a few more potatoes and radishes.

February Harvests

Many of your winter crops will still be producing, so expect to be harvesting most of your winter greens like bok choy, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, chard, fennel, kale, leek, and lettuce.

March

Ensure your watering system is up to scratch because you will be asking a lot of it in the coming months as the weather starts to warm up.  

March Plantings

March is a good time for flowers like Marigolds, Petunias, and sunflowers. For vegetables, you can continue with the same vegetables you planted in February but include a few beets and winter squash.

March Harvests

March should be keeping you pretty busy with harvests. Asparagus should be coming in now, as well as Brussel sprouts, bok choy, beets, chard, fennel, kale, onion, peas, and lettuce.


April

April in Arizona produces some of the most beautiful weather for gardening. It's a prelude to the warmer weather, which means it's time to get your garden ready for the hotter days.

April Plantings

It's an excellent time to get some more bean seeds (green and dry), black-eyed peas, and peanuts into the ground.

April Harvests

The carrots you planted in the fall should be ready for harvesting over the next few weeks. Leave them until you are ready to eat, but keep the coming hot weather in mind if you have planted a lot of them. Carrots don't do well in extreme heat.


May

The days are getting warmer, so it's a good time to think about protecting your more delicate plants against the heat with shade and mulching.

May Plantings

It's time to plant your garlic and get a few more black-eyed peas in there if you think you will need them.

May Harvests

Cucumbers prefer long warm summers – as long as it doesn't get too hot. The cucumbers you put in early should be ready to harvest now. Collier cucumbers will ripen before the hottest days arrive. You should get your beans off the vine while they are still young and tender. If you leave them much longer they will lose their flavor. Beans left on the plant that are bulging with seeds will take that as a sign to stop producing.


June

The spring bloom is well and truly over, and the daytime temperatures are starting to get up there by the time June arrives. Try to keep your labor-intensive gardening jobs to the early morning or evening.

June Plantings

You've done all your planting by now, so June is all about garden maintenance. Warm weather varieties will be starting to mature, so make some room in your pantry.

June Harvests

Your artichokes will be ready, as will some of your beans, corn, eggplant, melons, peppers, chilies, squash, and tomatoes.


July

Summer is in full swing, and you'll be looking forward to the monsoon rains for some relief. Keep up with watering and ensure your more delicate plants get plenty of mulch and afternoon shade.

July Plantings

As with June, it's too hot to be planting anything vegetable wise right now.

July Harvests

You will be enjoying fresh cucumbers, and more of your peas, peppers, chilis, and tomatoes should be ready by now.



August

Most Arizona gardeners have had enough of summer by now, but there's still a couple of months to go. Things to do in the garden include getting it ready by removing or digging in the heat-loving vegetables that have given their last.

August Plantings

If the monsoon rains have been kind, you should consider taking advantage of the higher humidity by planting a few summertime vegetables. Otherwise, continue prepping your soil with compost and organic matter.

August Harvests

The last of your peas and peppers will be coming through. Cut your peppers back to encourage new growth for the fall. Also, get rid of any debris around the garden that may be able to harbor pests out of sight.


September

September is the start of the end of the hot summer days, but you will still be making good use of shade for the next month or so.

The nights will be cooler, and there will be plenty of gardening tasks to keep you busy. Pests are also starting to get more active during September, so be on the lookout for early signs of infestations.

September Plantings

It's a good time for annual herbs and wildflowers, but there are a ton of plants to get in the ground, so here goes:


  • Artichokes
  • Bok Choy
  • Broccoli
  • Brussel sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Carrot
  • Cauliflower
  • Celery (transplant)
  • Chard
  • Cucumber
  • Fennel
  • Kale
  • Leek (transplants)
  • Lettuce
  • Onions
  • Peppers and Chiles
  • Radish
  • Spinach


We did say you would be busy, but don't put everything in at once, as you'll be putting in a lot of the same vegetables in the next couple of months.

September Harvests

More peppers will be arriving if you trimmed them back in August. There will also be garlic, beans, squash, cucumbers, peanuts, and possibly kale ready to add to the pantry.


October

The humidity is drying up, and the nights are cool and dry. The first two weeks will still be warm, but you and your vegetables will be looking forward to cooler days. It's also time to think about putting the shade cloth back in storage.

October Plantings

You will be planting more of the same as you did in September, but you should also consider putting down potatoes, beets, and peas in October, as well as more of your winter greens.

October Harvests

If you planted baby leaf lettuce, then you should have some ready to go. Some of your peanuts and garlic should have also come in by now.


November

Depending on where you are in Arizona, it's time to start preparing for frost, which can arrive as early as the 15th in the northern areas. Burlap, old sheets, and N-Sulate are an excellent choice, but not plastic. Other than the imminent arrival of frost, November is a beautiful time to be a gardener in Arizona.

November Plantings

Most of your winter greens should be in the ground by now, but check September's list and add more of what you like.

November Harvests

A lot of your fall planting harvests will be starting this month. You should also have a few plump and purple eggplants on your vines, as well as beans, cucumbers, garlic, and peanuts.


December

The first two weeks of December are typically mild, but the second half can get chilly, so protect your frost-sensitive plants against the cold weather as described above.

December Plantings

Now is an excellent time to get more of your favorite cold-weather loving plants in, such as beets, artichoke, beets, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussel sprouts, and chard. As with September, December can keep you pretty busy with plantings. Check our handy calendar list for more information about what you should be planting right now.

December Harvests

If you've been following a hectic planting schedule, you will be enjoying a bountiful harvest of beets, broccoli, cabbage, chard, cauliflower, kale, and lettuce this December.


A Year's Worth of Vegetable Gardening in Arizona

As you can see, vegetable gardening in Arizona will keep you quite busy and well-stocked in produce throughout the year. Use our simple month-by-month guide to prepare your plantings, and reap the rewards come harvest time with organic, delicious fresh vegetables ripe for the dinner table.