When to Plant Vegetables in Arizona
Warm Climate (Zones 8-9)Zones 7b, 9a, 9b
Arizona’s long, warm growing season is a vegetable gardener’s dream. With 8–10 months of frost-free weather, you can grow successive plantings of both warm-season crops in spring and summer and cool-season crops in fall and winter. Heat-loving vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, okra, and sweet potatoes produce abundantly, while strategic fall plantings of lettuce, broccoli, and carrots take advantage of cooler temperatures.
What to Plant This Month in Arizona (May)
Direct Sow
- bean
- corn
- cucumber
- zucchini
Transplant Outdoors
- sweetPotato
Harvest
- tomato
- pepper
- zucchini
- cucumber
- bean
- onion
- basil
- eggplant
- beet
May Garden Tasks
- • Spring warm-season harvest begins in earnest
- • Last planting date for most warm-season crops before summer heat
- • Begin preserving — canning tomatoes and pickling cucumbers
- • Increase watering frequency as temperatures climb
- • Side-dress tomatoes and peppers with balanced fertilizer
- • Prune lower tomato leaves to prevent soil-borne diseases
Top Vegetables for Arizona
Tomato
fruitmoderate60-85 days
Yield: 10-15 lbs per plant
Pepper
fruiteasy70-90 days
Yield: 5-10 peppers per plant
Sweet Potato
rooteasy90-120 days
Yield: 4-10 lbs per plant
Eggplant
fruitmoderate65-80 days
Yield: 4-6 fruits per plant
Cucumber
vineeasy50-70 days
Yield: 10-20 cucumbers per plant
Green Bean
legumeeasy50-65 days
Yield: 1/2 lb per plant per picking
Arizona Cities
Frequently Asked Questions
- When should I start planting vegetables in Arizona?
- In Arizona’s warm climate, spring planting begins as early as late February for cool-season crops. Warm-season vegetables like tomatoes, peppers, and squash can go outdoors in mid-March after the last frost. A second planting window opens in late summer for fall and winter harvests of cool-season crops.
- What are the best vegetables to grow in Arizona?
- Based on Arizona’s Warm Climate (Zones 8-9) conditions, the best vegetables include Tomato, Pepper, Sweet Potato, Eggplant. These varieties are well-suited to the growing season length and temperature patterns found across Arizona’s USDA zones (7b, 9a, 9b). Choose short-season varieties if you are in a colder part of the state and long-season varieties in warmer areas.
- What USDA hardiness zones are in Arizona?
- Arizona spans USDA hardiness zones 7b, 9a, 9b. Your zone determines your average last spring frost date and first fall frost date, which together define your growing season length. Use our city guides below for zone-specific planting calendars tailored to your exact location.
- What vegetables can I plant in Arizona right now?
- In May, Arizona gardeners can direct-sow bean, corn, cucumber, zucchini. Transplant sweetPotato outdoors. Check your specific city guide for exact timing based on your local frost dates.
- What are common vegetable gardening mistakes in Arizona?
- Only planting one season and missing the fall garden opportunity: The fall garden is often MORE productive than spring in zones 8-9. Start fall tomato transplants indoors in June and plant out by early July for a second full harvest. Planting cool-season crops too early in fall when it is still too hot: Wait until nighttime temperatures drop below 70°F before transplanting broccoli, or direct-sowing lettuce and spinach. Use shade cloth to keep soil cool for germination. Not providing enough water during extreme summer heat: Use drip irrigation and 4-6 inches of mulch. Water deeply in the early morning. Container plants may need watering twice daily when temperatures exceed 100°F.