Phoenix Vegetable Garden Planting Calendar

Phoenix's Two Growing Seasons

The single most important concept for Phoenix gardeners: we grow twice per year, not once. Our spring season runs roughly January through May. Our fall and winter season runs October through February. June, July, August, and September are mostly too hot for most vegetables — though a handful of heat-lovers thrive through our monsoon season.

Most gardening advice you'll find online is written for USDA Zones 5–7, where people plant tomatoes in May and harvest in August. In Phoenix, those tomatoes would fail. Understanding our two-season calendar is the foundation of everything.

January — Spring Season Begins

January is the single most important planting month in Phoenix. This is when spring crops go in the ground.

What to Plant in January in Phoenix:

• Tomatoes — Plant transplants January 15–February 15. Buy from local nurseries.
• Peppers — Transplants go in January 15–February. Jalapeños, Anaheims, bells.
• Eggplant — Plant transplants in late January.
• Onions — Direct sow bulb onions from sets in January.
• Herbs — Basil (transplants), parsley, chives, oregano.

Continue from Fall Planting:

• Harvest leafy greens (lettuce, kale, spinach, chard) — these are at peak production
• Harvest broccoli, cauliflower planted in September/October
• Harvest root vegetables planted in October

February — Peak Spring Planting

February is your second critical spring planting month. The main window is February 1–15 for most warm-season crops.

• Tomatoes — Last chance for transplants (plant by February 15)
• Cucumbers — Direct sow seeds in late February
• Summer squash & zucchini — Direct sow in late February
• Beans (green beans) — Direct sow February 15+
• Melons — Start seeds indoors in February for March transplant

March — Spring Garden Maintenance

By March your spring garden is established. Focus on care and early harvesting.

• Fertilize tomatoes and peppers every 2–3 weeks
• Watch for first tomato flowers — switch to lower-nitrogen fertilizer
• Begin harvesting radishes, lettuce, spinach before heat hits
• Install shade cloth over cool-season crops to extend their season
• Increase watering frequency as temperatures rise

April — Peak Harvest Season

April is the best month in the Phoenix garden. Spring crops are producing heavily and temperatures are still manageable.

• Tomatoes: heavy harvest, pick regularly
• Cucumbers and squash: picking daily at peak
• Peppers: producing well
• Beans: harvest ready
• Pull cool-season crops (lettuce, spinach) as they bolt in rising heat

May — Late Spring Transition

May is the end of spring in Phoenix. Temperatures are rising toward 100°F and crops are winding down.

• Last heavy tomato harvest — pull plants when daytime temps hit 95°F consistently
• Continue harvesting peppers, eggplant, squash
• Pull remaining cool-season crops (they'll bolt and go bitter)
• Start transitioning beds to summer rest or heat-tolerant summer crops

June, July, August — Summer Survival Mode

Most vegetables cannot survive Phoenix summers. A few can:

• Eggplant — Can survive and produce through summer with heavy mulch and drip irrigation
• Okra — Actually loves Phoenix heat, set and forget
• Armenian cucumber — Unique heat-tolerance, can produce through summer
• Amaranth — Both edible and ornamental, thrives in heat
• Sweet potato vines — Grow as ground cover, harvest in fall
• Tepary beans — Native to the Sonoran Desert, bred for heat

For most gardeners: cover your beds with 3–4 inches of mulch, run drip irrigation, and rest the garden until September. If you're keeping heat-lovers going, pair 30–40% shade cloth with a proper summer watering schedule to get them through.

September — Fall Garden Preparation

September is when you prepare for the fall season. Temperatures are still hot but starting to drop.

• Start broccoli and cauliflower seeds indoors for October/November transplanting
• Start onion seeds indoors (or plan to buy transplants in October)
• Amend and refresh raised bed soil with compost
• Install new drip emitters if needed
• Order or purchase seeds for fall planting

October — Fall Planting Window Opens

October is the second most important planting month in Phoenix. The heat breaks and a huge range of vegetables become plantable.

• Leafy greens — Direct sow lettuce, kale, arugula, spinach (early October)
• Carrots — Direct sow October 1–15
• Radishes — Direct sow, harvest in 3–4 weeks
• Beets — Direct sow October 1–15
• Broccoli/cauliflower — Transplant seedlings started in September
• Swiss chard — Direct sow or transplant
• Snap peas — Direct sow October 15–31
• Garlic — Plant individual cloves, harvest in late spring

November & December — Cool Season Peak

November and December bring the best cool-season harvests of the year.

• Harvest lettuce, kale, chard, arugula using cut-and-come-again method
• Harvest broccoli heads when tight and dark green
• Harvest radishes planted in October
• Plant garlic in November for late spring harvest
• Plant onion transplants or sets in December–January
• Start tomato seeds indoors in December for January transplanting

Frequently Asked Questions

When do you plant tomatoes in Phoenix?

Plant tomato transplants in Phoenix between January 15 and February 15. This is the opposite of most national gardening advice. Phoenix tomatoes need to be in the ground in January to produce a full harvest before summer heat exceeds 95°F in late May and shuts down fruit set.

How many growing seasons does Phoenix have?

Two: a spring season (January–May) for warm-season crops like tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, squash, and melons; and a fall/winter season (October–February) for cool-season crops like lettuce, kale, spinach, broccoli, carrots, and peas. June through September is mostly too hot for vegetables.

What can you grow in Phoenix in the summer?

Most vegetables cannot survive Phoenix summers. The crops that can include okra, Armenian cucumber, eggplant (with heavy mulch and drip), amaranth, sweet potato vines, and tepary beans. For most gardeners the practical advice is to mulch beds, run drip irrigation, and rest the garden from June through early September.

When do I start a fall garden in Phoenix?

October. October 1–15 is the main direct-sow window for leafy greens, carrots, radishes, and beets. October 15–31 is when snap peas and broccoli/cauliflower transplants go in. Use September to start brassica seedlings indoors and prepare your beds with fresh compost.

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