What to Plant Now:
Southwest Gardening Region
Vegetable planting times can change fast in a Southwest garden, so click to the upcoming month to learn more about what to plant now, anytime.
January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
If you’re a Southwest gardener, you’re in the right place. If you’re from somewhere else, click to find garden planning information for your area.
For planting times specific to your zip code, check out the MOTHER EARTH NEWS Vegetable Garden Planner.
|
Tip from MotherBookmark this page, so you can make it back to your Southwest gardening region home in one click. Our free-use website includes thousands of pages, and you don’t want to waste time looking for this very page.
|
Good Reading About the Southwest Gardening RegionThe Mother Earth News online archives include three decades of homestead and gardening reports from the Southwest gardening region, including these neat stories: Best Tomatoes for the Southwest, January 2010 Phoenix Custom Chicken Coops, December 2009 (online) The Southwest, March 1990 Chino Valley Changes, January 1987 Mule Train Nomads, July 1979 Water in the Desert, June 2004 Great Places You’ve Never Heard Of Brisbee, Arizona, August 2008 San Luis Obispo, California, August 2008 Dixon, New Mexico, August 2007 Silver City, New Mexico, October 2009 Yavapai County, January 1987 |
Wise AdviceIf you live in the desert – sunken beds or protected beds and waffle/dry bed gardening are the best choice. It traps what little water does come naturally and reduces the manual water needed. It protects your plants from the dry, moisture-sucking wind as well. Plus you can plant early and easily cover the seedlings with trash bags until the last frost.Criss Kraus, online comment, 6/22/09 |
Resources for the Southwest Gardening RegionClimate factors such as elevation or distance from the sea will influence when to plant what. These links will help you find your best planting dates, starting with extension service recommendations.Home Vegetable Gardening in New Mexico, New Mexico State University Vegetable Planting Guide, Arizona State University (click to your zone to find exact planting dates) Vegetable Planting Guide, San Diego (California) County Extension Service Sustainable Agriculture in Arizona. PDF from University of Arizona Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education, University of California California Certified Organic Farmers, Santa Cruz, California Farm to Table, Santa Fe, New Mexico |
