How to Grow Tomatoes in Phoenix, AZ
Tomatoes are the Valley gardener's holy grail — and they're absolutely achievable if you respect the calendar. Plant in January, harvest in April and May, and be done before the June heat arrives. I've grown dozens of varieties over the years and I'll tell you exactly which ones perform best here.
Read the Full Guide🌸 Spring Garden
Peppers: The Desert's Perfect Crop
Jalapeños, bells, Anaheims — peppers love our dry heat. Plant in February and harvest all the way into June. The variety guide that changed how I grow them.
Cucumbers & Squash in the Desert
Start these in late February and they'll outproduce anything else in your spring garden. My best tips for watering, spacing, and harvesting before the heat hits.
Growing Melons in Phoenix
Nothing beats a homegrown cantaloupe in May. They take patience and space, but Phoenix's dry heat and our short window make them surprisingly sweet.
Beans: Fast, Easy, and Delicious
Green beans are one of the fastest crops you can grow in Phoenix. Direct sow in February for a harvest in just 50–60 days before summer shuts them down.
Eggplant: Our Underrated Hero
Eggplant loves Phoenix heat more than almost any other vegetable. It even survives summers others can't. If you haven't tried it, this is your season.
Basil & Warm-Weather Herbs
Basil thrives alongside your tomatoes in spring. Add Thai basil, oregano, and chives for a complete kitchen herb garden that works all season.
🍂 Fall & Winter Garden
Leafy Greens All Winter Long
Lettuce, kale, spinach, chard — Phoenix's cool season is salad season. Keep a steady cut-and-come-again harvest going from October through February.
Broccoli & Cauliflower in the Desert
These cool-season crops have a narrow sweet spot in Phoenix — plant in September, harvest in December. Get the timing right and they're surprisingly easy.
Root Vegetables: Carrots, Beets & Radishes
Direct-sow these in October for a winter harvest. Carrots especially love our loose desert soil when amended properly. Tips on spacing and thinning included.
Snap Peas & Snow Peas
Plant in October and harvest by January. Peas love a trellis and our cool nights. One of the most satisfying crops you'll grow in the fall garden.
Onions & Garlic in Arizona
Plant garlic in November for a June harvest. Onions go in January. Both thrive in our mild winters and are some of the easiest, most rewarding crops you'll grow.
Cool-Season Herbs: Cilantro, Parsley & Dill
These herbs hate summer but thrive all fall and winter in Phoenix. Cilantro especially will self-seed and come back year after year with almost no effort.