Southwest Planting Calendar for 2026
Your Month-by-Month Guide for Desert Gardening
The Southwest desert climate offers two main growing seasons: spring and fall. This guide will help you maximize your harvest throughout 2026 with a specific calendar for USDA zones 9-10.
January 2026 - Planning and Preparation
What to Plant
- Vegetables: Garlic, onions, peas, fava beans, spinach, lettuce (under frost protection)
- Herbs: Cilantro, parsley, dill
- Flowers: Pansies, calendula, alyssum
Tasks for the Month
- Order seeds for spring season
- Prepare soil with compost and organic amendments
- Prune deciduous fruit trees while dormant
- Check and repair drip irrigation systems
February 2026 - Spring Season Begins
What to Plant
- Vegetables: Potatoes, carrots, beets, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, kale
- Herbs: Mint, oregano, thyme, sage
- Flowers: Petunias, geraniums, verbena
Tasks for the Month
- Start tomato and pepper seeds indoors (for March transplant)
- Fertilize fruit trees and roses
- Apply mulch to conserve moisture
March 2026 - Peak Spring Season
What to Plant
- Vegetables: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, zucchini, cucumbers, melons, watermelons
- Herbs: Basil, rosemary, lavender
- Flowers: Zinnias, sunflowers, cosmos, vinca
Tasks for the Month
- Transplant tomato and pepper seedlings after last frost (typically mid-March)
- Install 30% shade cloth to prepare for coming heat
- Gradually increase watering frequency
April 2026 - Last Spring Plantings
What to Plant
- Vegetables: Beans, corn, okra, squash, bitter melon
- Herbs: Mexican oregano, epazote
- Flowers: Portulaca, lantana, salvia
Tasks for the Month
- Switch to 50% shade cloth over sensitive crops
- Apply thick mulch (3-4 inches) to conserve moisture
- Monitor pests (aphids, whiteflies) that increase with heat
May 2026 - Transition to Heat
What to Plant
- Vegetables: Sweet potatoes, yuca, heat-resistant peppers
- Herbs: Thai basil, lemongrass
- Flowers: Desert vinca, lantana, bougainvillea
Tasks for the Month
- Harvest spring crops before extreme heat
- Increase shade to 70% for lettuce and leafy greens
- Water early in the morning to minimize evaporation
June-August 2026 - Extreme Summer
What to Plant
Limited planting: This is the most challenging period. Focus on maintaining established plants.
- Amaranth (extreme heat tolerant)
- Summer squash (resistant varieties)
- Established perennial herbs
Tasks for the Month
- Water deeply 2-3 times per week instead of daily shallow watering
- Use 50-70% shade cloth over all growing areas
- Plan and order seeds for fall season
- Keep mulch fresh and thick
- Harvest early in the morning
September 2026 - Fall Season Begins
What to Plant
- Vegetables: Tomatoes (fast-maturing varieties), peppers, zucchini, cucumbers
- Herbs: Cilantro, parsley, dill
- Flowers: Marigolds, petunias, alyssum
Tasks for the Month
- Prepare planting beds with fresh compost
- Gradually reduce shade to 30-50%
- Start seeds indoors for October transplant
October 2026 - Peak Fall Season
What to Plant
- Vegetables: Lettuce, spinach, kale, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, beets, radishes
- Herbs: All cool-season herbs
- Flowers: Pansies, violas, snapdragons, dianthus
Tasks for the Month
- Remove shade cloth to maximize sunlight
- Transplant tomato and pepper seedlings for winter harvest
- Reduce watering frequency as temperatures drop
November 2026 - Fall Harvest
What to Plant
- Vegetables: Garlic, onions, peas, fava beans, spinach
- Herbs: Cilantro, parsley, mint
- Flowers: Spring bulbs (tulips, daffodils require pre-chilling)
Tasks for the Month
- Harvest late summer crops before first frost
- Plant fruit trees and berry bushes
- Apply compost to beds to prepare for winter
December 2026 - Winter Maintenance
What to Plant
- Vegetables: Lettuce, spinach, kale (under protection)
- Herbs: Parsley, cilantro
Tasks for the Month
- Protect sensitive plants with frost cloth during cold nights
- Harvest winter vegetables regularly
- Plan garden for 2027
- Clean and store tools and equipment
Key Tips for Success
Two Main Seasons
Spring (February-May): Plant early to harvest before extreme June heat.
Fall (September-November): The best season for most crops. Cooler temperatures and fewer pests.
Heat Management
- Use shade cloth progressively: 30% in spring, 50-70% in summer
- Water deeply and less frequently
- Apply 3-4 inches of mulch on all beds
Recommended Varieties for the Desert
- Tomatoes: Phoenix, Heatwave II, Surefire
- Peppers: Jalapeño, Anaheim, Hungarian Wax
- Lettuce: Jericho, Muir, Nevada
- Herbs: All Mediterranean varieties thrive
Frost Protection
Although rare, frosts can occur from December to February. Have frost cloth ready and cover sensitive plants when temperatures drop below 35°F.
Additional Resources
To maximize your success:
- Keep a garden journal to track what works in your specific microclimate
- Join local gardening groups to share experiences
- Adjust this calendar based on your elevation and microclimate
- Experiment with native and desert-adapted varieties
Conclusion
The Southwest desert garden requires a different approach than other regions, but with this calendar you'll have abundant harvests throughout 2026. Remember: work with the climate, not against it. The two growing seasons offer you unique opportunities that other gardeners don't have.
Ready to start your best gardening year? Explore our shade cloths, irrigation systems, and containers designed specifically for desert climates.