Arizona Vegetable Planting Calendar (Low Desert): What to Plant Now
Month-by-month planting calendar for the low desert. 139 crops with sow windows for hot, dry Phoenix and Tucson gardens.
This is our Desert Southwest vegetable planting calendar for the low desert around Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas. It starts with what vegetables to plant now in the Desert Southwest, then goes through the whole year, with planting windows set for a climate that is low desert, hot and dry, across USDA zones 7a to 10a. Further down you will find a sowing chart for popular vegetables, local timing notes, frost dates by ZIP code and a season-by-season guide, all from the same data that runs the Planting Season app. This is a first-pass calendar built from regional extension guidance and under local review, so treat it as a strong first draft.
Monthly Planting Calendar
The low desert (Phoenix, Tucson and similar, USDA 9b-10a; the region spans 7a-10a) has mild, nearly frost-free winters and brutally hot, dry summers, so the calendar inverts the rest of the country. The cool season, October through February, is the prime vegetable garden; spring and early fall are the windows for warm-season crops; and June through August is the dead season for almost everything. Citrus, figs and pomegranates thrive here, while the alkaline desert soil rules out acid-lovers like blueberries. These windows are a first-pass estimate from desert extension guidance and are being reviewed locally.
Month-by-month vegetable planting calendar for the Desert Southwest
Every vegetable in our Desert Southwest calendar, grouped by the month you can sow or plant it. Each month links to its full page with herbs, fruit and flowers.
| Month | Vegetables to sow or plant | Count |
|---|---|---|
| January | Arugula, Asparagus, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Globe Artichoke, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Sunchoke, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 39 |
| February | Arrowroot, Asparagus, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Globe Artichoke, Green Onion, Kale, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Luffa (Loofah), Mizuna, Popcorn, Spinach, Squash, Sunchoke, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Watermelon, Zucchini | 29 |
| March | Arrowroot, Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bush Beans, Cantaloupe, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Green Onion, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), New Zealand Spinach, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Sweet Corn, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomato, Watermelon, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 28 |
| April | Amaranth, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, Malabar Spinach, New Zealand Spinach, Okra, Peanuts, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Sweet Potato, Yardlong Beans | 12 |
| May | Amaranth, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Sweet Potato | 4 |
| June | Amaranth, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Sweet Potato | 4 |
| July | Amaranth, Malabar Spinach, Okra, Sweet Potato | 4 |
| August | Bell Pepper, Bitter Melon, Bush Beans, Chili Pepper, Cucumber, Edamame, Eggplant, Green Onion, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Lima Beans, Luffa (Loofah), New Zealand Spinach, Peanuts, Popcorn, Pumpkin, Sorghum, Southern Peas, Squash, Swiss Chard, Tomatillo, Tomato, Yardlong Beans, Zucchini | 23 |
| September | Arugula, Beet, Bitter Melon, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Bush Beans, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Chili Pepper, Collard Greens, Cucumber, Daikon, Edamame, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Green Onion, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Salsify, Scorzonera, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Squash, Swiss Chard, Tatsoi, Tomatillo, Tomato, Turnip, Watercress, Zucchini | 54 |
| October | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Celery, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fava Beans, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Garlic, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Peas, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Snow Peas, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 46 |
| November | Arugula, Beet, Bok Choy, Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Carrot, Cauliflower, Celeriac, Chicory, Collard Greens, Daikon, Endive & Escarole, Fennel (Herb), Florence Fennel, Gai Lan (Chinese Broccoli), Garlic, Hamburg Parsley, Kale, Kohlrabi, Komatsuna, Leek, Lettuce, Mibuna, Mizuna, Mustard Greens, Napa Cabbage, Onion, Parsnip, Potato, Quinoa, Radicchio, Radish, Rutabaga, Salsify, Scorzonera, Shallot, Sorrel, Spinach, Tatsoi, Turnip, Watercress | 42 |
| December | Bok Choy, Kale, Komatsuna, Lettuce, Spinach, Tatsoi | 6 |
Desert Southwest vegetable sowing chart
36 popular crops, with the months you can sow or plant them in the Desert Southwest. Shaded months are open planting windows, and the last column spells them out. Where our data says a crop is set out as transplants, the window is the transplanting window.
| Crop | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Sow or plant |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tomato | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Bell Pepper | Feb to Mar and Aug | ||||||||||||
| Chili Pepper | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Eggplant | Feb to Mar and Aug | ||||||||||||
| Zucchini | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Squash | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Cucumber | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Pumpkin | Mar and Aug | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Corn | Feb to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Bush Beans | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Peas | Jan and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Snow Peas | Jan and Sep to Oct | ||||||||||||
| Okra | Apr to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Southern Peas | Mar to Apr and Aug | ||||||||||||
| Lettuce | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Spinach | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Swiss Chard | Feb to Mar and Aug to Sep | ||||||||||||
| Kale | Sep to Feb | ||||||||||||
| Collard Greens | Jan and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Broccoli | Jan and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Cabbage | Jan and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Cauliflower | Jan and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Carrot | Jan and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Beet | Jan and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Radish | Jan and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Turnip | Jan and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Onion | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Garlic | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Potato | Jan and Sep to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Sweet Potato | Apr to Jul | ||||||||||||
| Basil | Mar to Apr and Sep | ||||||||||||
| Cilantro | Jan to Feb and Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Parsley | Jan to Feb and Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Strawberry | Oct to Nov | ||||||||||||
| Watermelon | Feb to Mar | ||||||||||||
| Cantaloupe | Feb to Mar |
Local timing notes for the Desert Southwest
Where timing in the Desert Southwest needs explaining, our data carries a local note. These are the same notes the Planting Season app shows for this region, and they explain the shape of the chart above.
- Bell Pepper (Feb to Mar and Aug): Set out transplants in February or March, or in August for a fall crop; September plantings run out of warm weather.
- Eggplant (Feb to Mar and Aug): Set out transplants in February or March, or in August for a fall crop; September plantings run out of warm weather.
Browse by Category
Frost dates, climate and USDA zones in the Desert Southwest
The climate in the Desert Southwest is low desert, hot and dry. Across the region the average last spring frost falls around February 5 and the first fall frost around December 5, which leaves a growing season of about 303 days for frost-tender crops such as tomatoes, peppers, beans, squash and basil. Those are regional midpoints: a frost pocket, a slope or a warm wall can shift your own dates by weeks.
Frost is local, so here is what the ZIP code records show for a few places across the low desert around Phoenix, Tucson and Las Vegas:
- Phoenix (85004): effectively frost free, so heat rather than cold limits the season.
- Tucson (85701): typical last spring frost January 20; typical first fall frost December 17; a growing season of about 332 days.
- Yuma (85364): typical last spring frost January 8; typical first fall frost December 28; a growing season of about 362 days.
- Las Vegas (89101): typical last spring frost February 1; typical first fall frost December 8; a growing season of about 311 days.
Enter your own ZIP code in the Frost Lookup for your typical last and first frost. ZIP code figures come from the nearest weather station in the NOAA 1991 to 2020 Climate Normals, at the 50 percent probability level, so in one year out of two the last frost comes later.
USDA hardiness zones: our Desert Southwest region spans zones 7a to 10a. Your zone tells you which perennials, shrubs and fruit trees survive a normal winter; it does not tell you when to sow, which is why this calendar follows frost dates and summer heat instead. Zone pages: zone 7a, zone 7b, zone 8a, zone 8b, zone 9a, zone 9b, zone 10a.
Desert Southwest planting seasons: a season-by-season guide
The calendar above, read by season. Counts and crop lists come straight from the Desert Southwest planting windows, so they change only when our data changes.
Spring in the Desert Southwest (March to May)
32 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in spring. Planting windows that open: in March, Pumpkin, Southern Peas, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, New Zealand Spinach, Peanuts, Sorghum and Yardlong Beans; in April, Okra, Sweet Potato, Amaranth and Malabar Spinach. Last chance before the season ends: March for Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans and 10 more; April for Southern Peas, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama, Lima Beans, New Zealand Spinach, Peanuts, Sorghum and Yardlong Beans.
Summer in the Desert Southwest (June to August)
27 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in summer. Planting windows that open: in August, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Pumpkin, Bush Beans, Southern Peas and 13 more. Last chance before the season ends: July for Okra, Sweet Potato, Amaranth and Malabar Spinach.
Fall in the Desert Southwest (September to November)
57 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in fall. Planting windows that open: in September, Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot and 33 more; in October, Onion, Garlic and Shallot. Last chance before the season ends: September for Tomato, Chili Pepper, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Bush Beans, Swiss Chard, Bitter Melon, Edamame, Green Onion and 1 more; October for Peas, Snow Peas, Celery and Fava Beans. You can keep sowing Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Turnip, Potato, Arugula, Bok Choy and 25 more through every month of it. Fall is also garlic planting time here; see how to grow garlic.
Winter in the Desert Southwest (December to February)
58 vegetables can be sown or planted at some point in winter. Planting windows that open: in January, Peas, Snow Peas, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Turnip and 23 more; in February, Tomato, Bell Pepper, Chili Pepper, Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Cucumber, Sweet Corn, Bush Beans, Swiss Chard and 9 more. Last chance before the season ends: January for Peas, Snow Peas, Collard Greens, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Carrot, Beet, Radish, Turnip and 19 more. You can keep sowing Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Bok Choy, Komatsuna and Tatsoi through every month of it.
Growing Guides
In-depth guides for the most popular crops and techniques. These guides adapt to your region.
Free Monthly Planting Calendar
Get an email each month with what to plant, seasonal tips, and harvest reminders for your region.
We send one email per month. Unsubscribe any time.
Plan your whole garden in the app
Drag-and-drop beds, track from seed to harvest, and get Desert Southwest reminders every month.
Open the App →Planting calendars for other US regions
Gardening somewhere else? Each region has its own planting windows, frost dates and month pages. For every region side by side, see what vegetables to plant now across the US, or find your region by ZIP code.
- North Florida vegetable planting calendar
North Florida: USDA zones 9a to 9b, frost window February 15 to December 5. - Central Florida vegetable planting calendar
Central Florida: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - South Florida vegetable planting calendar
South Florida: USDA zones 10a to 11a, effectively frost free. - Gulf South vegetable planting calendar
Gulf South: USDA zones 8a to 9b, frost window February 25 to December 1. - Texas vegetable planting calendar
Texas: USDA zones 8a to 10a, frost window March 1 to November 28. - Southern California vegetable planting calendar
Southern California: USDA zones 9b to 10b, effectively frost free. - Mid-South vegetable planting calendar
Mid-South: USDA zones 7a to 8b, frost window April 10 to October 25. - Pacific Northwest vegetable planting calendar
Pacific Northwest: USDA zones 6b to 9a, frost window March 25 to November 15. - Northeast & New England vegetable planting calendar
Northeast & New England: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 10 to October 15. - Mid-Atlantic vegetable planting calendar
Mid-Atlantic: USDA zones 6b to 8a, frost window April 15 to October 25. - Midwest & Great Lakes vegetable planting calendar
Midwest & Great Lakes: USDA zones 5a to 7a, frost window April 30 to October 15. - Upper Midwest & Northern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Upper Midwest & Northern Plains: USDA zones 3b to 5a, frost window May 15 to September 25. - Mountain West vegetable planting calendar
Mountain West: USDA zones 5a to 7b, frost window May 5 to September 30. - Southern Plains vegetable planting calendar
Southern Plains: USDA zones 5b to 7b, frost window April 10 to October 30. - Northern California vegetable planting calendar
Northern California & Central Valley: USDA zones 7b to 10a, frost window February 28 to November 17. - Hawaii vegetable planting calendar
Hawaii: USDA zones 11b to 12b, effectively frost free. - Alaska vegetable planting calendar
Alaska: USDA zones 1b to 7b, frost window May 15 to September 10.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is summer the dead season in the desert?
Daytime heat well over 100 F and intense sun shut down most vegetables from June to August. The desert's productive months are the mild fall, winter and spring; plan your biggest planting for October.
What grows best in the low desert?
Cool-season crops (greens, brassicas, roots, peas) from fall through winter, warm-season crops in spring and early fall, and desert-friendly fruit like citrus, figs and pomegranates year-round.
How accurate are these dates?
They are a careful first pass based on desert extension calendars and our climate ruleset. We are reviewing them with local sources before this region is finalized.
What vegetables can I plant now in the Desert Southwest?
It depends on the month. Going by our Desert Southwest calendar, in spring (Mar to May) you can sow Okra, Southern Peas, Sweet Potato, Amaranth, Hyacinth Bean (Lablab), Jicama and Lima Beans; in summer (Jun to Aug) you can sow Okra, Sweet Potato, Amaranth and Malabar Spinach; in fall (Sep to Nov) you can sow Peas, Snow Peas, Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Collard Greens and Broccoli; in winter (Dec to Feb) you can sow Lettuce, Spinach, Kale, Asparagus, Bok Choy, Globe Artichoke and Komatsuna. The What to plant in the Desert Southwest now section at the top of this page always shows the current month, and each month page lists every crop.
When is the last frost in the Desert Southwest?
Across the Desert Southwest the average last spring frost is around February 5 and the first fall frost around December 5, a growing season of about 303 days. ZIP code records for Phoenix (85004) show it as effectively frost free. Check your own ZIP code with the Frost Lookup.
When should I plant tomatoes in the Desert Southwest?
Our Desert Southwest calendar has tomatoes planted in February to March and August to September. More in how to grow tomatoes.
When should I plant garlic in the Desert Southwest?
Our Desert Southwest calendar has garlic planted in October to November. More in how to grow garlic.