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Phoenix, Arizona · vegetable planting calendar

What to plant now in Phoenix

This month's sowing list for Phoenix, what is ready to pick, when to plant the favourites, the planting year at a glance and the local frost dates.

October

31 vegetables to sow or plant now

26 of them are at their best time to start. Phoenix gets a few frosts most winters, rarely after about February 16.

Quick, easy wins this month: radish, arugula, bok choy, cilantro, beets and lettuce.

Sow or plant in Phoenix in October

Start seeds indoors

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Onion
  • Parsley

Direct sow

  • Arugula
  • Beets
  • Bok choy
  • Carrot
  • Chives
  • Cilantro
  • Dill
  • Kale
  • Lettuce
  • Parsley
  • Parsnip
  • Radish
  • Rutabaga
  • Scallions
  • Swiss chard
  • Turnip
  • Bush beans
  • Zucchini

Transplant

  • Broccoli
  • Brussels sprouts
  • Cabbage
  • Cauliflower
  • Celeriac
  • Celery
  • Chives
  • Garlic
  • Kale
  • Leek
  • Parsley
  • Potato
  • Strawberry
  • Basil
  • Cucumber
  • Zucchini

Names with a dashed outline can be started now, but it is not their best time.

Last month to start: basil, bush beans, cucumber, potato and zucchini.

Ready to pick in October

  • Basil
  • Bell pepper
  • Bok choy
  • Cantaloupe
  • Cucumber
  • Eggplant
  • Hot pepper
  • Okra
  • Radish
  • Sweet corn
  • Sweet potato
  • Tomato
  • Watermelon
  • Winter squash
  • Zucchini

Coming up in November

  • Fava beans
  • Peas
  • Spinach

When to plant the favourites in Phoenix

Tomato

Tomatoes

Start seeds indoors: January and July.

Transplant: February to March and September.

Best time to start: February to March.

Pick: May to August and October to December.

First pick about 16 weeks after starting.

Potato

Potatoes

Plant: January to February and October.

Best time to start: January to February and October.

Pick: April to June and December to February.

First pick about 11 weeks after starting.

Garlic

Garlic

Plant: October to December.

Best time to start: October to December.

Pick: April to July.

First pick about 24 weeks after starting.

Lettuce

Lettuce

Direct sow: October to February.

Best time to start: October to March.

Pick: December to April.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Carrot

Carrots

Direct sow: October to March.

Best time to start: October to February.

Pick: November to April.

First pick about 9 weeks after starting.

Bush beans

Bush beans

Direct sow: February to March and September to October.

Best time to start: February to March and September.

Pick: April to June and November to December.

First pick about 7 weeks after starting.

Onion

Onions

Start seeds indoors: September to January.

Transplant: November to March.

Best time to start: November to March.

Pick: February to June.

First pick about 22 weeks after starting.

Strawberry

Strawberries

Plant: October to January.

Best time to start: October to January.

Pick: March to May.

First pick about 19 weeks after starting.

Winter squash

Winter squash

Start seeds indoors: February and July to August.

Direct sow: February to March and August to September.

Transplant: February to March and August to September.

Best time to start: February to March and August.

Pick: May to July and October to December.

First pick about 13 weeks after starting.

Zucchini

Zucchini

Start seeds indoors: February to March and August to September.

Direct sow: February to April and September to October.

Transplant: February to April and September to October.

Best time to start: February to April and September.

Pick: April to July and October to December.

First pick about 6 weeks after starting.

The planting year in Phoenix

VegetableONDJFMAMJJASFirst pick
ArugulaSSSSSSabout 4 weeks
BasilPTSSPSSabout 6 weeks
BeetsSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
Bell pepperTPPPTPabout 16 weeks
Bok choySSSSSSSabout 5 weeks
BroccoliPPPPPTabout 14 weeks
Brussels sproutsPPTTabout 22 weeks
Bush beansSSSSabout 7 weeks
CabbagePPPPPTabout 15 weeks
CantaloupeSSTSPabout 8 weeks
CarrotSSSSSSabout 9 weeks
CauliflowerPPPTabout 17 weeks
CeleriacPPPTTabout 26 weeks
CeleryPPPPPTTabout 23 weeks
ChivesSSSSSSPTTabout 10 weeks
CilantroSSSSSabout 6 weeks
CucumberPTSSTSabout 6 weeks
DillSSSSSSabout 6 weeks
EggplantTTPPTTPPabout 16 weeks
Fava beansSSabout 13 weeks
GarlicPPPabout 24 weeks
Hot pepperTPPPTTPPabout 17 weeks
KaleSSSSSSTabout 8 weeks
LeekPPPPPTTabout 21 weeks
LettuceSSSSSabout 7 weeks
OkraSSSSabout 5 weeks
OnionTPPPPPTabout 22 weeks
ParsleySSSSSSTTabout 9 weeks
ParsnipSSSabout 16 weeks
PeasSSSSabout 10 weeks
Pole beansSSSabout 9 weeks
PotatoPPPabout 11 weeks
RadishSSSSSSabout 3 weeks
RutabagaSSSabout 14 weeks
ScallionsSSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
SpinachSSSSabout 6 weeks
StrawberryPPPPabout 19 weeks
Sweet cornSSSSSabout 8 weeks
Sweet potatoPPPabout 9 weeks
Swiss chardSSSSSSabout 7 weeks
TomatoTPPTPabout 16 weeks
TurnipSSSSSabout 7 weeks
WatermelonSSTSPabout 9 weeks
Winter squashSSTSSabout 13 weeks
ZucchiniSSSSTSabout 6 weeks

The chart starts at October. "First pick" is the usual time from starting to the first harvest.

Phoenix season by season

Spring March to May

Time to start: cantaloupe, okra, sweet potato and watermelon.

Last chance for: arugula, basil, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, bush beans, cantaloupe, carrot, chives, cucumber, dill, eggplant, hot pepper, kale, okra, onion, parsley, pole beans, radish, scallions, sweet corn, sweet potato, Swiss chard, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Summer June to August

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, cantaloupe, celeriac, celery, chives, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, leek, okra, parsley, sweet corn, sweet potato, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: bell pepper, sweet potato and tomato.

Fall September to November

Time to start: arugula, beets, bell pepper, bok choy, broccoli, bush beans, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, cilantro, dill, fava beans, garlic, kale, lettuce, onion, parsnip, peas, pole beans, potato, radish, rutabaga, scallions, spinach, strawberry, Swiss chard, tomato and turnip.

Last chance for: basil, bell pepper, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cantaloupe, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, okra, pole beans, potato, sweet corn, tomato, watermelon, winter squash and zucchini.

Winter December to February

Time to start: basil, bell pepper, bush beans, cucumber, eggplant, hot pepper, pole beans, potato, sweet corn, tomato, winter squash and zucchini.

Last chance for: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, cilantro, fava beans, garlic, leek, lettuce, parsnip, peas, potato, rutabaga, spinach, strawberry and turnip.

Frost in Phoenix

Frost nights in a year
about 2, none in some winters
Frost is unlikely after
about February 16

Frosts in Phoenix are few, but they do come. On a still, clear night the grass and low plants can frost while the air a little higher stays just above freezing, so plants in the open may see more frosts than this count. A low corner where cold air settles gets it first, and later into spring. The end of frost is not the time to plant: tender vegetables also need warmth, so go by the months for each vegetable above.

Harder to grow in Phoenix

Too hot here: runner beans.

Questions about planting in Phoenix

What can I plant now in Phoenix?

In October, 31 vegetables can be sown or planted in Phoenix, including arugula, basil, beets, bok choy, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans and cabbage. The full list is at the top of this page and changes every month.

When should I plant tomatoes in Phoenix?

In Phoenix, sow tomatoes indoors in January and in July and transplant them from February to March and in September. The best time to start is from February to March. Picking runs from May to August and from October to December.

When should I plant potatoes in Phoenix?

In Phoenix, plant potatoes from January to February and in October. The best time to start is from January to February and in October. Picking runs from April to June and from December to February.

When should I plant garlic in Phoenix?

In Phoenix, plant garlic from October to December. The best time to start is from October to December. Picking runs from April to July.

When is the last frost in Phoenix?

Phoenix gets a few frosts most winters: about 2 nights in a typical year, and none at all in some winters. Frost is unlikely after about February 16, but warmth, not frost, decides when tender vegetables go in: go by the months for each vegetable on this page.

Which vegetables are quickest to grow in Phoenix?

The quick ones are radish (about 3 weeks), arugula (about 4 weeks), bok choy (about 5 weeks), basil (about 6 weeks), cilantro (about 6 weeks), cucumber (about 6 weeks), spinach (about 6 weeks) and zucchini (about 6 weeks). The time is from starting to the first pick.

Other cities

What to plant now in New York · What to plant now in Boston · What to plant now in Chicago · What to plant now in Atlanta · What to plant now in Dallas · What to plant now in Houston · What to plant now in Austin · What to plant now in Denver · What to plant now in Seattle · What to plant now in Portland · What to plant now in Los Angeles · What to plant now in San Diego

These dates are estimates for general guidance, based on the usual weather in Phoenix. Seasons vary from year to year, so check the seed packet and local advice as well.
Temperatures: Source: Meteostat and its data providers (CC BY 4.0). Crop temperature ranges checked against FAO ECOCROP (CC BY 4.0).

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