Time To Plant Your Phoenix Vegetable Garden!

Now that the Phoenix area is firmly in its springtime weather patterns, it’s time to garden! We have approximately 3 months to harvest as many of the typical garden crops as we can before the heat of June begins to kill these spring annuals off.

But what crops should you be planting right now?

Peppers

Peppers enjoy the Goldilocks warm temperatures between April and June. Jalapenos are typically the easiest to grow to fruition, though any peppers will thrive between now and the onset of the summer heat. If provided with shade and consistent water, they can survive the summer and provide peppers in the fall as well! Try the Chiltepin for a small, spicy delicacy.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes do not like the cold, but once the weather begins to warm up they will thrive. Cherry tomatoes are the easiest to grow to fruition, though if you can keep the fruits safe from birds and provide enough calcium to prevent blossom-end rot, tomatoes of all sizes can be harvested before the summer wilt if you plant them now.

Peas

Peas are excellent plants to grow in any garden, as their roots contain rhizomes that provide nitrogen nutrients to the whole garden. Even as they wither away with the summer heat, they will leave the soil with more nutrients than what they started with. And you’ll get to harvest tasty peas along the way!

Radishes

Anything with a bulb is a great option for Arizona gardening, and radishes are no exception.These may be one of the easiest crops to grow in Arizona, going from seed to harvestable bulb in as little as a month.

Beans

Beans, just like peas, create their own Nitrogen supply and increase the fertility of an entire garden. Depending on the species, they can last longer than peas. They’re great sources of protein and can be stored for years if done properly.

Corn

You’ll need open space for corn, and it creates several other gardening challenges. Corn sucks up Nitrogen rapidly, so they are often planted with beans. It is also often targeted by birds, especially quail. While getting corn to grow to maturity can be a challenge, they enjoy the climate of the springtime in Arizona and can certainly make for a feast if successfully harvested.

Squash

We’ve talked about Corn and Beans, so now we have to mention Squash, the third member of the “Three Sisters Garden.” Some varieties of squash can grow through the summer, others can survive the winter. The benefit of squash on a larger garden comes from their large leaves and vining properties. They create shade that cools the soil and preserves moisture for every other plant in the garden. The “Three Sisters” method involves the Squash cooling and protecting the soil, the Beans fertilizing the soil, and the Corn benefiting from both and creating the most calorie-rich nutrition.

Carrots

Carrots are tubers that also grow well in the spring in Arizona. If you want the best harvest, small varieties of carrots will likely be the best idea. There are even species of carrots which are native to parts of Arizona, if you can get your hands on them.

Artichokes

Artichokes can be planted now, and with their strength against heat, you can harvest artichokes well into the summer. Sometimes, artichoke plants can survive for multiple years if you can protect them from aphids and excessive sunlight. Just make sure you have a lot of space when planting artichokes, as they can grow up to 5 feet wide and 4 feet tall.